Meanjin writers diagnose an Australian democracy in trouble, challenging us to activate as critical thinkers and citizens - and playing with our expectations of what comes next. 'Not one constitution but three constitutions in a trenchcoat' is an incisive essay by constitutional and international law experts Emily Crawford and Elisa Arcioni; Michelle Sowey looks at developing children's critical thinking; Patrick Marlborough exposes the precarious role of freelance journalism in holding power to account. Gerald Roche addresses the suppression of Indigenous language rights, while Aidan Hookey takes us to Ulu?u and wonders why the local signage treats even First Peoples as tourists. Our interview this season is with feminist architecture critic Naomi Stead. 'Australia in Three Books' is by renowned architecture advocate Stuart Harrison. And 'The Year In.' looks at Repair of our built and cultural environment, by architecture and philosophy theorist Hélène Frichot. Already Australia's most beautifully designed journal, this edition features experimental work by Sean Hogan, and visual poetry by Jonathan Battista, Katherine Nicholson and Maria Takolander. And as always, we begin by listening: this season's Meanjin Paper is 'Djandak Dja Kunditja: Country healing its home' by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Rodney Carter. Poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, experiments . . . Embrace Australia's finest writers.