1. The nonpartisan rule
“The American Republic Clock doesn’t measure whether Republicans or Democrats are winning. It measures whether the Constitution is.”
A party, candidate, belief, economic idea, cultural position, or policy does not move the clock by itself. The review asks whether an action had legal authority, respected checks and rights, could be reviewed or reversed, allowed lawful opposition, respected federal and state powers, and kept political competition peaceful.
Nonpartisan does not mean treating facts and falsehoods as equal. It means applying the same rule no matter who acted.
2. Application
- Tax increases or cuts alone do not move the clock.
- Strict or permissive immigration policy alone does not move the clock.
- An election result does not move the clock because of the winner’s ideology.
- The constitutionality, process, enforceability, rights effects, reversibility, and treatment of opposition may move the clock.
- Evidence of abuse and evidence of effective correction must both be counted.
Political activity
The assessments do not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties. Individual contributors retain personal rights, but personal activity must not be presented as the project’s position.
3. Conflicts and disclosures
Anyone who scores, edits, governs, or researches the project should disclose work, paid consulting, campaign roles, financial interests, close organizational ties, or other interests that a reasonable reader could think might affect their judgment.
Some conflicts may require extra review or require a person to step away from a decision. That should normally happen when someone took part in the event being reviewed, has a meaningful financial interest in the result, or answers to a funder seeking influence. Once a formal review structure exists, the relevant assessment should explain these conflicts and who stepped away.
Current ownership
ARKLYTE, LLC owns and publishes the American Republic Clock as an Arklyte.io Labs product. The proposed American Republic Commission does not yet exist and has not adopted these assessments. Each relevant page states whether independent review has happened.
4. Report a conflict
Identify the person, organization, assessment, and basis for the potential conflict through Arklyte.io. Material claims will be verified before personal allegations are published.