This page outlines a modular legal architecture that allows lightweight voluntary associations to scale into powerful, federated systems. Legal authority flows through layers, starting with informal participation and culminating in shared legal entities like LLPs or CICs.
The goal is to support local autonomy, global coordination, and legal legitimacy without requiring full incorporation at the grassroots level.
# Layers - Voluntary Association Layer: Each group of ~42 people forms a voluntary association with its own rules, constitution, and elected chair. No registration is required under UK law. - Delegation Layer: Each association can elect or appoint a human delegate (typically the chair) who is authorized to act on behalf of the group. - Mobile Governance Layer: The delegate uses a mobile app connected to a homelab server to coordinate group actions, votes, pledges, and governance. - Legal Wrapper Layer: Delegates may collectively form a legally registered entity (e.g. LLP, CIC, co-op) to handle money, contracts, shared infrastructure, or external representation. - Federated Governance Layer: A higher-tier federation of legal entities may be created to coordinate among multiple groups, forming a modular legal ecosystem.
# Diagram
digraph LegalStructure { rankdir=TB; node [shape=box style=rounded fontsize=11]; Voluntary[label="Voluntary Association Layer" tooltip="Informal, low-barrier groups with constitutions"]; Delegate[label="Delegation Layer" tooltip="Elected chair or rep authorized by group"]; AppLayer[label="Mobile Governance Layer" tooltip="Delegate uses mobile app + homelab for coordination"]; LegalEntity[label="Legal Wrapper Layer" tooltip="LLP, CIC, or co-op formed by delegates"]; Federation[label="Federated Governance Layer" tooltip="Optional meta-entity coordinating legal wrappers"]; Voluntary -> Delegate; Delegate -> AppLayer; Delegate -> LegalEntity; LegalEntity -> Federation; }
# Benefits - **Scalable**: Start small with zero cost; grow organically. - **Inclusive**: Anyone with email or WhatsApp can join a group. - **Legitimate**: Legal wrappers give access to funding, contracts, and recognition. - **Distributed**: No single central authority — each layer can federate independently. - **Modular**: Groups can choose how far up the legal stack they wish to go.
# Notes This architecture mirrors the concept of **fractal governance**: small, autonomous groups nesting within larger systems, each with their own rules and legal status. Power and responsibility are delegated intentionally, not assumed by default. Each group can fork, federate, or specialize, allowing for global resilience and local control.
# See
- Fractal Infrastructure
- Delegation Layer
- Voluntary Association Layer
- gov.uk 
- uk.coop