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+# Civicus — Preamble
+
+**CIVICVS** derives from the Latin *civis* — **citizen**.
+In classical inscriptions, Latin had no lower-case letters, and the character **V** carried the sound of both “U” and “V.”
+Thus, the historically authentic rendering is **CIVICVS**, while the domain name `civicus.us` reflects the modern, anglicized form.
+
+This distinction is not trivial. It demonstrates what it means to be **rational and pragmatic** as a Civic Analyst:
+
+* To **start with the record** as it truly is, not as we wish it to be.
+* To respect **linguistic and historical accuracy** while also recognizing modern conventions.
+* To make the **reasoning process transparent**, so that every choice is explained and can be audited.
+
+---
+
+## Purpose
+
+Our purpose is the **defense and restoration of civic knowledge** by establishing a profession complementary to journalism: the **Civic Analyst**.
+
+Where journalism often emphasizes speed, narrative, and credentialism, the Civic Analyst emphasizes **context, authenticity, and independence**.
+
+---
+
+## Three Bedrock Commitments
+
+1. **Context over Narrative**
+   Evidence without context devolves into propaganda.
+   The Civic Analyst situates every claim within its full civic, historical, and social setting.
+
+2. **Authenticity over Spectacle**
+   Evidence without immutability is not evidence.
+   We preserve sources with hashes, timestamps, and transparent provenance so that they remain verifiable over time.
+
+3. **Independence over Credentialism**
+   Authority flows from rigor, not résumé.
+   Analysts are judged by the clarity, transparency, and reproducibility of their reasoning — not by elite endorsements.
+
+---
+
+## Method of Transparency
+
+Civicus does not conceal its workshop.
+We publish **what was drafted, what the LLM critiqued, and how it was refined.**
+
+Our standard: **no publication without the preserved conversation.**
+Every iteration is part of the record, ensuring that civic knowledge is **auditable** and **open to scrutiny**.
+
+---
+
+## Closing Declaration
+
+This preamble establishes the linguistic, ethical, and methodological foundation of Civicus.
+It will not be revised. Any future interpretation or expansion must be published by another Civic Analyst as a new analysis.
+
+---