founding principles
Core starting beliefs
Founding principles are the core beliefs or values established at the creation of an institution, nation, or organization.
They serve as a philosophical foundation meant to guide future decisions and governance: The Constitution reflects America's founding principles.
The phrase often appears in debates about whether current practices align with original intentions: Critics argued the policy violated the company's founding principles.
- truthAccordance with reality
- mission statementFormal declaration of purpose
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- bill of rightsDocument listing protected liberties
- natural rightsFreedoms inherent to personhood
inalienable rights · all men are created equal · human dignity · freedom · democracy · consent of the governed · justice · federalism · equality · bylaws · checks and balances · limited government · solidarity · separation of powers · social contract · rule of law · tolerance · liberty
- Company Heritagemilestone, anniversary, origin story
- UN foundingUnited Nations, UN Charter, United Nations Charter, original members, signatories
- academiaprofessors, universities, graduation cap, biology department, professor
founding principlestemporary measures
Actions intended as short-lived
situational ethics · realpolitik · institutional decay · mission drift
founding principlesviolations
Breaches of rules
abuses · perversions · hypocrisies · deviations · erosions
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