My school had a democracy experiment. Someone broke it

Main ideas / lessons

• A student in a chemistry class proposes a school “republic” as a democratic experiment run entirely through a WhatsApp group chat.
• The experiment uses a very minimal constitution meant to be flexible, but that flexibility creates room for absurd or harmful “laws.”
• To prevent real-world harm, the host adds “irreversible laws”—especially one rule that actions must not affect real life.
• The “republic” evolves into something like a real political system but with loopholes, rule disputes, and social dynamics (party formation, campaigning, lobbying, conflict).
• The game demonstrates how quickly political systems can destabilize when participants treat the rules strategically and when the host’s authority is contested.
• The narrator’s claimed takeaway after the experiment collapses: “full democracy” can’t be trusted in this context, and stable governance requires a more centralized/authoritarian structure.

Methodology / rule system presented (constitution + host rules)

Constitution (original system)

• Voting
  • Everyone gets one vote.
• Elections
  • Monthly elections for President.
  • Elections/referendums/voting are managed by the Host (the narrator).
• Executive appointments
  • The President appoints a Vice President.
• Lawmaking
  • Only the President and Vice President may propose new laws.
  • Proposed laws are voted on by the People.
• Majorities
  • Normal laws require a 50% majority to pass, be amended, or be removed.
  • Constitutional laws require a 66% supermajority to pass, be amended, or be removed.
• Term limits
  • The President may be re-elected only once consecutively.
  • The Vice President may be reappointed only once consecutively.
• Constitution style
  • The constitution is described as barebones and intentionally open-ended, creating the risk of extreme or nonsensical laws.

“Irreversible laws” (constraints to prevent harmful outcomes)

• Laws are framed as practically “set in stone.”
• Core irreversible rule:
  • “Laws, decisions, and actions must not affect real life.”

Host’s conflict-resolution / enforcement actions (executive orders)

When group chat activity becomes chaotic and participants begin leaving, the narrator issues two orders without voting:

1. Temporary Suspension of Posting Pictures in Group Chat

   • Applies starting when proclaimed.
   • Prohibits: posting pictures, photographs, posters, and memes.
   • Violations incur a maximum penalty of exile.

2. Temporary Suspension of Communal Discussion

   • All discussions are banned from the group chat.
   • The Host allocates specific times when laws and political debates can be discussed.
   • Only announcements and permitted post types are allowed.

How laws are invalidated during the chaos

• Because of the no-images order, candidates are punished for violations.
• The narrator ultimately invalidates Nikita’s presidential ticket after Nikita is accused of a second picture-related offence (along with a claim that it had been warned previously).
• The constituency becomes politically “homeless,” forcing people to scramble for alternatives.

Political progression and key events

• Parties form quickly, largely around platforms and “bants” rather than stable ideology:

  • Moderate People’s Union (MPU)
    • Legalising everything that doesn’t harm others; votes/free speech
    • Right to bear arms (noted as inappropriate for school)
    • Free state-funded healthcare with conditions
    • Legal drugs
    • Points-based immigration
    • Violent criminals in “scientific experiments”
  • Red Torgy Party / Ludie
    • Job creation proposals (including satirical roles like “grammar police”)
    • Citizenship test for migrants
    • Monarch
    • “Educated Vote Act” restricting voting to “educated” people
  • Duracell Party
    • Single issue: banning drugs
    • Founded by Alex “for the bants”
    • Described by the host as a joke party

• Convergence into two major camps occurs due to behind-the-scenes merging:

  • PakChoi plans a left-wing party, but Ludie urges him to join hers.
  • Their parties merge, becoming Red Torgy Union.

• Campaigning becomes hostile

  • Nikita delivers long speeches; Ludie heckles.
  • The group chat turns into meme warfare.
  • People stop keeping up (overwhelmed by unread messages), start leaving, and leave notifications accelerate the collapse.

• Host intervention

  • The narrator imposes restrictions (no pictures; limited discussion).
  • The goal is to prevent the game from collapsing before votes finish.

• Electoral punishment changes the election outcome

  • Nikita’s ticket is invalidated; his constituency loses its preferred option.
  • Nikita retracts his candidacy after a “better to die a lion…” moment.

• Revolution and coup-like sequence

  • Others mobilize against the Host (“Trolligarch” nickname).
  • Alex and others call for rebellion; Duracell tries to negotiate/align with the revolution.
  • Revolutionaries propose a rule: revolting is legal if “approved by us.”
  • The narrator later claims the revolution continues until a final twist: Trolligarch removes Ludie, leaving no one in the chat.

• Aftermath / conclusion

  • The narrator concludes participants can’t be trusted with full democracy.
  • He creates a second “republic” constitution with a highly centralized structure, guided by a steward-like authority:
    • General Secretary runs the executive
    • Chairman runs the legislature
    • Founding Father runs the judiciary
    • Dependencies:
      • General Secretary appointed by Founding Father
      • Chairman can’t act without General Secretary
      • Founding Father is the narrator himself
    • The first General Secretary he appoints is himself.
  • One concession remains: the Chairman is elected by the people.

Speakers / sources featured (identified names and roles)

• Narrator / Host / “Trolligarch”
  • The YouTuber; “Founder” drafting the constitution and issuing executive orders
• Alex
  • Classmate; candidate behind Duracell; later rallies the revolution
• Nikita
  • First presidential candidate; leader of the Moderate People’s Union
  • His ticket is invalidated; later retracts his candidacy
• Daniel
  • Nikita’s deputy/vice-presidential partner; later considered as a replacement candidate
• Ludie
  • Leader of the Red Torgy Party (later “Queen Ludie” in revolution talk)
  • Removed in the narrator’s final account
• PakChoi
  • Prospective candidate planning the Red Union Party; his role leads to merger with Ludie’s party
• Duracell Party / Duracell spokesperson
  • Treated as a political force (a “vice presidential candidate” for a frivolous joke party)
  • More of a party brand than a clearly separate individual
• Peter Suber
  • Source of the game Nomic, invented in 1982