discourse/discovery/HIGH_LEVEL_CORE_MVP.md

Step-by-Step Approach to Building the System

1. Blockchain as the Foundation

• Purpose: Blockchain ensures transparency, security, and immutability for all actions in the legislative process, from feedback submission to final drafts.
• Recommendation: Use Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned blockchain suited for enterprise use. It supports complex workflows, maintains privacy where needed, and integrates well with other technologies.
• How It Works:
  • Smart Contracts: Automate feedback submission, participant verification, and legislative edits.
  • Immutable Records: Every action (e.g., feedback submitted, text edited) is logged on the blockchain, making the process auditable by the public.
  • Decentralized Control: No single entity owns the process, aligning with your democratic vision.

2. AI for Feedback Analysis and Text Generation

• Purpose: Analyze citizen feedback, categorize it, identify related issues or underlying problems, and generate initial legislative text.
• Tools:
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Use models like GPT-4 or BERT, fine-tuned on legislative and public policy data, to understand and categorize feedback.
  • Clustering: Apply algorithms (e.g., K-means) to group similar feedback and reveal common themes.
  • Text Generation: Leverage GPT-4 to draft legislation based on feedback, using predefined legal templates for coherence.
• Process:
  1. Collect feedback from citizens via a public interface.
  2. Feed it into the AI to categorize (e.g., by topic or sentiment) and identify patterns.
  3. Generate initial legislative text addressing the most prominent issues, ready for collaborative editing.

3. Git-Like Collaborative Platform

• Purpose: Enable citizens, constituents, AI, and verified members of Congress to co-write legislation in a transparent, version-controlled environment.
• Features:
  • Version Control: Track every change (additions, deletions, edits) with attribution to contributors, similar to Git.
  • Branching: Allow parallel development of legislative proposals (e.g., citizen-led vs. Congress-led), with merging after review.
  • Review Process: Use a “pull request” system where changes are discussed and approved before integration.
• Implementation:
  • Build on Git with a custom, user-friendly interface for non-technical users.
  • Record each commit or merge on the blockchain for transparency.
  • Create a web platform (e.g., using GitLab) to simplify participation.

4. Verification of Members of Congress

• Purpose: Ensure only authorized individuals can sponsor or co-write legislation.
• Method:
  • Digital Signatures: Assign each member a unique cryptographic key pair. They sign their contributions, and the system verifies them against their registered public key.
  • Role-Based Access: Use blockchain smart contracts to restrict certain actions (e.g., sponsoring bills) to verified members.
• Process:
  • Members receive a digital certificate during onboarding.
  • Their signed actions are validated automatically, ensuring authenticity.

5. Transparency for the Public

• Purpose: Make the entire process—from feedback to final legislation—fully visible and verifiable.
• Approach:
  • Public Ledger: Store all data (feedback, drafts, edits) on the blockchain, accessible to anyone.
  • Dashboard: Provide a real-time interface where citizens can track progress, see contributions, and audit the process.
  • Privacy Option: Allow anonymous feedback using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) to protect citizen identities while maintaining transparency.

6. Keeping Bills Small and Focused

• Purpose: Avoid bloated legislation by encouraging concise, targeted bills.
• Strategies:
  • Modular Design: Break complex issues into smaller legislative pieces, each addressing a specific problem.
  • AI Support: Use AI to suggest splitting feedback into distinct actions, ensuring focus.
  • Incentives: Prioritize smaller bills with faster reviews or greater visibility.

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System Architecture Overview

• Frontend: A user-friendly interface (e.g., built with Elm) for submitting feedback, viewing legislation, and editing collaboratively.
• Backend: Core logic (e.g., in Go) to process feedback, integrate AI, and interact with the blockchain.
• Blockchain: Hyperledger Fabric for storing data and managing smart contracts.
• AI Services: Python-based NLP and text generation models.
• Cryptography: Tools for digital signatures and ZKPs to ensure verification and privacy.

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Getting Started

1. Set Up Blockchain:

   • Deploy a local Hyperledger Fabric network.
   • Write smart contracts for feedback and legislative tracking.

2. Build AI Component:

   • Use Transformers in Python to analyze feedback and generate text.
   • Test clustering on sample data.

3. Develop Collaborative Platform:

   • Customize a Git-based tool with a simple interface.
   • Link it to the blockchain for record-keeping.

4. Implement Verification:

   • Set up digital signature verification in Go.
   • Explore ZKPs for anonymous feedback.

5. Launch a Public View:

   • Create a dashboard showing real-time legislative progress.

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