A: It’s an engine for changing Britain into the kind of nation the majority want her to be.

A: You think you do but how many chances do you get to vote? Just once, in a General Election. After that, you are powerless to change anything your ‘democratically’ elected government decides to implement!

A: Not in the least. Allowing ourselves to be ruled by the current system is radical (look at the results). Trying to ban palm trees in Torquay on the grounds of ‘Health and Safety’ is radical. Spending £221,000 on computer games to entertain convicts is radical. Paying £10.5 billion annually to the EU, only to have £7 billion given back and told how to spend it, is radical. Are we ticked off enough yet to do something about it?

A: Wrong question. Ask instead, what do the majority of British people want to see actioned on the subject of ID cards, energy and the environment?

A: The number of issues up for the ballot can be decided, but it could be as high as thirty. The technology is there – communications are what the 21st Century does well - we already bank on the Internet, many can vote the same way too (some already do in newspaper ‘polls’). Of course, strict safeguards and independent oversight would be required for any such system but it's not a science unknown. As to the speed of the process, take a look at the sample voting section on this website and see how long it takes you to vote on a dozen sample initiatives.

A: No. The roles will just change. The party in power has the right to recommend up to half the issues going to ballot. The government will have been voted into power in the usual way in a general election on a pledge to implement MajoritySay. The difference between the new system and old is that the public will have the final say on what major policy is actioned. The government will deal with minor issues and the minutiae of governance as it does today, save where a policy is successfully challenged by an individual or group petition under MajoritySay. 

A: : The Constitution cannot be changed except through a high-threshold vote. It comprises timeless safeguards no sane person would wish to be without. For instance, the protection of life, liberty and property. The right to self-governance. The right to a standing armed force. The right to freedom of religion. The right to lawful assembly. The right to a free press. Laws can certainly change as society changes, but no law may abrogate any part of the Constitution. It forms the bedrock of our civilisation and the vindication of our collective history. It’s the earnest of our future security, of life’s lessons learnt.

A: They are already in existence, and until recently underpinned British law until the European Communities Act 1972 switched us to the continental system of doing things. It will be a good idea to formalise a British Constitution based on these landmark, historical tenets. There is much written English Constitution going back centuries, born out of the strife this nation experienced at difficult times in its history. We do not need to relearn those lessons! The collective wisdom of the great minds who came before us should be formalised into a Constitution anyone can read. Today, articles such as the right to free speech or the right to the Common Law, are still technically law, though routinely ignored. MajoritySay’s constitutional experts can put together a framework of these articles from which to start if required (see MS Constitution section on this website). The Constitution can go before a special vote and the electorate decide on each article. The final Constitution will be enshrined into law and rightly celebrated as an historic document.

A: Twice a year, the citizen goes down to their local polling station or uses the Internet (and other technology) to vote on a range of local and national issues. Within three days, the majority will of the country is known on these policies and that will becomes law. Vote on a Tuesday, know by Friday the outcome and what changes will be implemented. That's democracy.

A: Whatever figures are decided upon, the Constitution will enshrine the vote-threshold levels. The MajoritySay team has set the arbitrary figure at 70% for the purpose of this web-site, which represents a strong majority that would not create the disquiet a 55% threshold could on a vital issue. Setting the majority threshold higher than 70% means less votes will pass, dulling the system. Set it too low and less of the majority is represented, with the potential for discord. Conclusion: A robust majority works in all ways, removing the risk of a photo-finish and minimising the effects of any voter fraud. Variable thresholds might be considered, linked to the effect an initiative might have on our lives and its cost – declaring war, or hosting the Olympics, by way of examples.

A: Yes. The Service will implement existing policy and remain the government’s administration. Wasteful quangos and superfluous bodies will be scrapped, saving millions. Individuals employed will be vetted for high calibre. Department chiefs can be removed under MajoritySay for poor performance or incompetence (lost data disks, bad MRSA record, etc.). The Civil Service is a service for the people, so should be directly answerable to them.   

A: The government can unilaterally declare a formal state of emergency in the event of a sudden threat to the nation (major natural disaster, foreign attack, national pandemic, etc.). Temporary powers are then granted by the people to Government under The National Emergency Powers Act. Emergency Powers are granted for 14 days, after which MPs vote to end the Emergency Powers or extend them for a further 14 days. This can be done three times before it must go to MajoritySay. Suffice to say, outside of war, most disasters in living memory have been handled swiftly within two weeks (the 1987 'hurricane', terrorist bombings, etc.).

A: Britain can only declare war by MajoritySay. This compels Government to put the case for war to the nation, thereby avoiding a repeat of the fiasco over Iraq. Media airs the viewpoints. In past emergencies, such as before the two world wars, Falklands, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., there was ample time to discuss and therefore schedule a vote. If the vote goes against war, the matter is sent to the United Nations. If the vote goes for war, Emergency Powers are granted to Government for a year and renewed by MP vote thereafter for periods of six months. A public vote to end hostilities can be actioned via Downing Street petition.

A: The Cabinet will comprise key experts in Defence, Education, Foreign Policy, Economics, Law, Health, Communication, Sport, Entertainment, etc. Their responsibility, much like now, will be to monitor policy and report. A public oversight committee, comprising MPs, will ‘police’ the Executive and independently report on performance and reasons for adaptations, concerns and changes in policy. In business parlance, there will be an elected Board (the government), a Chief Executive (the prime minister), the company workforce (Civil Service) producing the company’s product (the majority will), on behalf of the shareholders (us).

A: The colour of your beliefs can be represented by any political persuasion. A party can table an issue and lobby for support. Once the initiative has gained the critical mass (support) for inclusion into the bi-annual poll, MajoritySay will decide if this issue becomes policy.

A: Anyone. A citizen can post a Downing Street petition on any issue they feel strongly about. Their job will then be to encourage the required support for their petition to qualify for the vote. The media too can petition (they do already in the pages of their newspapers), but under MajoritySay their motion will have a direct effect if it passes. Government will be posting motions, business too. Let's say a biotech conglomerate wants us to eat their GM food, they can post a petition and discover the majority will in this matter. Can you think of a fairer system?

A: No, because they won’t hold the minority opinion on everything. The rights of every citizen are enshrined in law under the Constitution. That being said, under MajoritySay, Britain will increasingly become the nation the majority wants her to be. Those who are in the minority opinion on one issue may well be in the majority on others.

A: Look at it this way. If we had voted on the EU Constitution, we would have seen MajoritySay in action. A fair vote is better than none. If you were given ten more votes than the one you have now, how much more could be accomplished? Any new system needs refining. Start slow and work in. Deal with the burning issues that affect us first. Law and order. Our involvement with the European Union. The economy. Tax and local government. MajoritySay will work only if the people want it to. If they don’t, you do have the system you’re currently paying for.

A: The Constitution enshrines your right to appropriate free healthcare. Major changes to the healthcare system can be set underway with MajoritySay. For example, treating underlying causes of disease with proven nutritional initiatives can only assist recovery. The biggest block to healthcare reform has been pharmaceutical dominance of the health industry. Treating symptoms with drugs is not the same thing as curing disease. A healthcare system fit for the 21st Century is one in which the patient plays the vital part in their recovery, not which postcode gets which drugs (NICE)! For people with permanent disability, the existing benefits will continue as with any government until modified, of course, by a MajoritySay initiative.