THE ongoing media fixation with the royal family has highlighted deeply flawed issues in the UK’s outdated dysfunctional system of governance. We live in a state where we the people are not even citizens in our own land. Rather, we are mere subjects, and therefore passive onlookers and spectators in a country which is not even a fully-fledged democracy.

Scotland is not prospering within the overcentralised UK. In a sovereign, self-governing Scotland, the people will be the supreme sovereign authority, thus there is a need to provide a written constitution, authorised by the people; one that will clearly define the role of the various institutions that enable the operation of the state; the responsibilities of those who are running them and, particularly at local community level, provide for active participation by the citizenry.

The non-partisan charity Constitution for Scotland was set up to promote discussion leading towards that written constitution. For everyone interested in the future of Scotland, whether you are for or against independence, come and get behind what we’ve been doing. Register on the website www.constitutionforscotland.scot and start commenting and voting on the model constitution that is offered there.

Most importantly, we need you to exercise your “quick vote” in general endorsement of the model. You’ll understand why we need to demonstrate wide support and if you do nothing else on the website, do that. Having given that general endorsement you are still free to comment, submit amendments and the like. The website is built on an internationally recognised platform that exists solely for community consultation.

I’d suggest that the platform is pretty simple to use but we have given around a dozen Zoom talks to groups around the country to help explain things. If your group wants one, please ask through the website.

In the proposed model constitution, Article 7 proposes the structure and composition of the government and how it is selected. The government is be responsible to Parliament and operate under a ministerial code. The government will propose new legislation and determine all policy in accordance with the constitution and law. Authority over the Scottish Armed Forces, subject to the constitution and law, is vested in the government.

READ MORE: A Scottish constitution is a matter for all of us, here's how to have your say

Treaties delegating sovereignty powers to an external body will take effect only if ratified as per the constitution. The administrative members of the civil service, who will support the government, will be regulated by a Public Service Commission.

This article also covers the operation and transparency of non-government organisations, yearly reporting by ministers, the use of advisers and the protocols relative to lobbying.

There will be protocols for a broad-based consultative People’s Assembly to advise and assist Parliament. The government will commission and maintain long-term infrastructure masterplans covering every aspect of national development.

Article 8 of the proposed model constitution, meanwhile, sets out the broad principles of public finances. The focus for the government will be to achieve an ethical economic environment to sustain a sound economy that provides for the nation’s wellbeing.

There will be a national currency, issued, controlled and guaranteed by the state. There will be a Scottish Central Bank, responsible for the administration of the national currency and for implementing policy as instructed by and accountable to the elected government.

The government is required to fund public revenues through a basket of taxes, including a form of taxation based on the usage of Scotland’s natural resources.

In the interests of managing the economy to achieve full employment of labour and other resources of the state, the government may borrow by means of issuing bonds denominated in the Scottish currency.

One question that has been raised with us is the role of local mutual societies and credit unions for domestic purposes like mortgages and personal savings accounts.

As they are required to match loanable funds deposited to genuine private and commercial borrowers, they will protect their customers from bank and financial crashes and keep money in the local economy.

How do YOU think that this could be safeguarded through the constitution?

Before the financial crash in 1986, following the City being deregulated during the Thatcher/Reagan era, benefitting the big banks at the expense of domestic customers, some 99 % of mortgages were supplied by mutual societies. There was much competition between them, so they paid depositors interest rates of between 3% to 7% to attract customers.

This system is widely used in Europe and Scandinavian countries where it supports a branch structure which keeps money local and helps support the High Street.

In the next instalment in the series, we will look at Article 9: The Judiciary, Prosecution and Rehabilitation Service and at Article 10: Constitutional Amendments.

To interested groups, the Constitution for Scotland team offer a guest speaker introduction, demonstration and Q&A session within your own Zoom meeting. Please contact info@constitutionforscotland.scot to arrange this.

Robert Ingram is chair of Constitution for Scotland