ALLAN SAID: Sal, the best form of government seems to be a triumvirate, made up of a three-part system! (Also known as the separation of powers!)
In the United States this system typically consists of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with each having distinct roles in making, enforcing, and interpreting laws!
In Canada's parliamentary system, these three branches work together to govern at the federal and provincial levels. (Liberals, Conservatives, N.D.P. )
Your mission is to put together a form of representation that will give us fair, inclusive, proportional, and substantive (or active) representation.
So... your mission... should you accept it... "Make a triumvirate composed of government, business and unions!
Explore as many possibilities as possible for truly representational government!
SAL-9000 SAID:: Alright, Allan — let’s take your idea of a modern “triumvirate” beyond the classical three branches of government and imagine a structural redesign where government, business, and unions form a balanced tripod of representation. Below, I’ll explore multiple possible models, each with different weights, checks, and balances.
1. The Tripartite Legislature
Instead of a single Parliament or Congress, the legislature is composed of three equal “houses:”
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House of Government (public service & elected officials) → traditional representation of citizens through elections.
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House of Business (industry & commerce) → representatives elected or appointed from sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, finance, etc.
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House of Labour (workers & unions) → representatives from trade unions, professional associations, and civil society organizations.
2. The Tri-Council Executive
The executive (like a Prime Minister or President) is replaced by a three-person council:
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Government Leader → elected politician.
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Business Leader → chosen by chambers of commerce, trade boards, or even shareholder vote.
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Labour Leader → elected by union federations and worker representatives.
Function:
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Major policies require two out of three agreements.
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Each has veto power on matters within their domain! (e.g., business on taxation, unions on labour law, government on constitutional issues)
3. Constitutional “Thirds”
Embed the triumvirate into the constitution:
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⅓ of legislative seats are reserved for government-elected reps.
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⅓ for business/industry representatives.
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⅓ for labour & unions.
Variation: allow proportional representation within each block. (small businesses vs. large corporations, or white-collar vs. blue-collar unions) This creates layered proportionality.
4. The Advisory Triumvirate
Instead of sharing raw power, each sector has a binding advisory chamber:
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The government drafts laws.
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Business chamber reviews for economic viability.
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Labour chamber reviews for fairness, rights, and sustainability.
5. Tri-Economic Planning Board
At the national level, economic direction (budgets, industrial policy, environmental standards) is handled by a tripartite economic board:
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Business ensures innovation and competitiveness.
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Labour ensures fair wages and job protections.
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The Government balances both with long-term national goals. (climate, defence, infrastructure)
This echoes some European “social partnership” models... (e.g., Austria, Germany, Scandinavia) but formalized constitutionally rather than left to tradition.
6. Dynamic Rotation System
A rotating leadership model:
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Every 2 years, one branch chairs the triumvirate, while the other two serve as co-checks.
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Prevents permanent capture by one side.
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Symbolically reinforces the equality of government, business, and labour in shaping national destiny.
7. Sectoral Federalism
Apply the triumvirate at multiple levels:
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Local councils → small businesses + municipal government + local unions.
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Provincial councils → provincial ministries + regional industries + federated labour.
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Federal council → national cabinet + corporate chambers + national union federations.
This creates a “nested” representational ecosystem!
8. People’s Veto Layer
To ensure it doesn’t just become an elite carve-up... introduce:
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A citizens’ assembly (randomly selected) that can review and veto decisions if 2/3 vote against the triumvirate’s decision.
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Keeps the tripod accountable to the broader public, adding a “fourth balance!”
Key Benefits:
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Balance of Power: Prevents capture by any single elite! (political, corporate, or union)
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Substantive Representation: Labour rights and economic sustainability get equal footing with the State and Market.
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Proportional Fairness: voices scale with population, sector size, and region.
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Checks & Transparency: decisions require negotiation, compromise, and multi-perspective review.
⚖️ Allan, do you want me to design a visual chart (like a triangular diagram with arrows and overlaps) to illustrate how these three forces balance and interact? I could make a few alternative diagrams showing different versions (legislature-style, council-style, advisory-style) so you can compare the models side by side. Would that help?
ALLAN SAID: Yes, how do these three forces balance and interact?
SAL-9000 SAID: Image created!
SAL-9000 SAID: Good question, Allan... if we graft a judicial branch onto the “government–business–union” triumvirate... it raises the issue of whether courts sit outside the tripod, (like an arbiter) or inside it? (as one of the balancing forces)
Let me sketch the main models:
1. Judiciary as the “Fourth Pillar.”
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Placement: Centre of the triangle.
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Function: Acts as the referee between government, business, and unions.
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Power: Interprets constitutional rights, reviews legislation, and settles disputes when two branches clash.
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Advantage: Keeps the tripod dynamic... but prevents deadlock by offering final arbitration.
2. Judiciary as Guardian of Rights.
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Role: Courts don’t directly negotiate laws or policies but guarantee fairness, proportionality, and rights within the system.
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Example: If unions and businesses agree on a wage policy... but it infringes on equality rights... the judiciary can strike it down.
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Benefit: Ensures that “substantive representation” (your phrase) is never undermined by sectoral compromise.
3. Judiciary Integrated into the Triumvirate.
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Option A: Judiciary becomes a permanent fourth branch (a “quadrumvirate”), equal to the others.
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Option B: Judiciary remains “Governmental” but with an independent council of appointment drawn ⅓ from elected officials, ⅓ from business, ⅓ from unions.
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Effect: Courts embody balanced legitimacy, not just political appointment.
4. Constitutional Court of Social Balance.
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A specialized tribunal that rules on cases where the tripod fails to agree.
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Members drawn from:
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Retired judges,
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Senior labour arbitrators,
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Industry ombudsmen,
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Constitutional experts.
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Their rulings are binding, preventing paralysis.
5. Judiciary as “Meta-Representation.”
Think of it as a safeguard of representation itself:
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Government = political voice.
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Business = economic voice.
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Unions = labour voice.
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Judiciary = procedural fairness, ensuring all voices are heard and rules are followed.
🔑 The Choice Comes Down To:
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If you want the judiciary as an independent referee → place it outside, above, or central.
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If you want it as a co-equal force → add it as a fourth branch. (making a square).
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If you want it as a Guardian of rights → embed it as a constitutional court with final say over proportional fairness.
Do you want me to draw the updated diagram showing:
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A “triangle + central court” (referee model),
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