IDEA DEMOCRATICA, OR A COMMON-WEAL PLATFORM.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho, leech, 1659.   

Idea Democratica OR A Common-weal Platform.  
I. THat only Counties, Cities, and great Towns, choose Representatives according to a just proportion.  
II. That every Elector be 21 years of age, having ten pounds per annum in Lands, or 200 l. in Goods.  
III. That the Elected be men fearing God, of good life and Conversation, not under 30. years of age, and otherwise qualified as shall be thought fit.  
IV. That every Parliament be Biennial, and sit six months, and then adjourn and not dissolve, that so there may be a mayor power always in being to ●●rb and check all attempts of alteration of Government that shall be made in the interval of Sitting, either by the Senate or Counsel of State hereafter proposed.  
V. That every Representative at their first meeting, choose out of themselves a Senate coordinate in power during the six months Session, but have no Negative upon the Parliament, nor yet be deprived of their Vote; which may be effected by adding their Affirmative and Negative Votes in passing any Bill, to the Affirmatives and Negatives of the Commons House, that so the Bill may pass or be cast out by the Votes of both, by which means Laws will come forth more perfect and better digested.  
VI. That no Member of Parliament or Senate bear any Office in the Commonwealth during the time he is a Member of Parliament or Senate, because to be supreme in one Capacity, and subject and subordinate in another, is incongruous. And in every Parliament let a new Senate be chosen to continue until the next Parliament, that so there may be a Rotation, and all men taste as well of Subjection as Rule.  
VII. That the Senate do sit in the 18 months interval of Parliamentary Session as a Court of Judicature to hear and determine all Complaints of the People against all great Officers of State, Judges and other Officers of the Nation, in reference to the execution of their places, with power to fine and remove upon just proof of corruption or other misdemeanour, and to place others in their rooms to be confirmed in the succeeding Parliament, or by the present Parliament, in case they shall again convene in the 18 months Interval.  
VIII. That in all cases of error in Judgement made by the Senate, an Appeal lie only to the succeeding Parliament, or to the present Parliament again convening.  
IX. That the Senate of the Proceeding Parliament sand a warrant to the Commissioners of the Great Seal for issuing forth writs of Election three months before the meeting of the next Parliament, And if the Senate shall fail in sending out a Warrant, that then the Commissioners without Warrant within 7. dayes issue forth writs of Election; And if the Commissioners shall fail of their duty, that then the respective Sheriffs do within one fortnight issue forth writs, upon pain of High Treason, And if none of them shall sand out writs, that then it be enacted that the Electors of every County, City, and Town, shall every two years meet at a certain day and place to make their Election for the succeeding Biennial.  
X. That the Election and Return by the Sheriff be within convenient time, and sent up to the Senate impowred to Judge of the Election, and if they shall have good cause to question the same, that then a Summons go from the Senate to the people of that County, City or Town, commanding them at a certain day to sand a certain number of persons to make good their Election, and if upon hearing it be adjudged against them, then let the Senate settle it where it ought to be settled, otherwise let a writ issue forth for a new Election.  
XI. That there be a Counsel of State consisting of Persons distinct from the Senate, to manage all Affairs of State both domestic and foreign, and that in every Parliament one half of the number of the Counsel of State be taken out of the same, and others added by the Parliament, that so there may be an honest, prudent, and experienced Counsel, and yet a Rotation there as well as in the Senate, which will be a means ' to keep up Integrity and Sincerity, and to suppress Ambition and Corruption.  
XII. That the Counsel of State nominate all Officers of the Common-wealth, and present them during Parliament to be confirmed there, and in the Interval of Parliamentary Session, that care be taken by them to supply vacant places with honest, well affencted and able persons, to be approved of in the succeeding Biennial, or present Parliament convening; by this means the Senate being Judges of the miscarriages of persons put in by the Counsel, great care will be taken that Officers fitly qualified be chosen.  
XIII. That the Government established without a single person, King or House of Lords in the way of a free republic, be confirmed by an Act of this present Parliament.  
XIV. That it be then sent into every County to be subscribed by all persons capable to elect, with their Names, place of Abode, and Addition, to be entred upon the Parliament Roll.  
The Title of the Subscription to run thus, or after this manner. XV. We whose names are here under subscribed, Electors of the Representatives of the County of do give our full assent and consent to the Government established in the way of a free republic by this present Parliament; And do likewise further desire, condescend, and agree, that the Government so established by this present Parliament without a single person, King, or House of Lords, be not altered, changed or revoked without the full consent of us the Subscribers or our heires in a lineal or collateral descent, or of such Assigns as shall claim their Estates from or under us or our heires for time to come.  
XVI. Which being so Subscribed, and returned, and entred upon the Parliament Roll, let an Act of Confirmation close the government.  
FINIS