Default Rules of Procedure

 

Minimum Rules

The following are the default rules of procedure.  If adopted unanimously they may only be altered similarly unanimously. 

 

Organizations

An organization is a named group of people with an ordered member list.  The order of a member on the list equates to "seniority."  An organization can induct or expel its members or change their seniority ranking.

 

Proposals

Actions of the organization are only made by adoption of resolutions at business meetings.  A business meeting commences whenever a majority of the members of an organization are gathered in a setting such that all are able to communicate with each other in real time and the most senior member present has declared the meeting in progress by clearly stating that the particular meeting is in progress using the name of the organization and the words "is officially meeting as of now."   At that point that most senior member present becomes the designated speaker.  During a business meeting, members take turns as the designated speaker in order of seniority.  The designated speaker, and only the designated speaker may propose resolutions.  The designated speaker proposes a resolution with the words "I propose the following resolution" followed by the wording of the proposed resolution, followed by the words "how say you?". 

 

Cycles

There are two kinds of cycles of turns.  The main one is the cycle of speakers, but additionally a speaker's turn may be suspended during a cycle of commentary.  During either, the current active turn ends as soon a majority of members present are standing up or as soon as the currently active turn holder says "remarks complete".   When a turn is ended by standing, the next turn of the currently active cycle doesn't begin until a majority of members present are again seated.  A turn as designated speaker also is ended once a proposal by the speaker has received enough votes to be adopted.  Once a member's turn ends and a majority of members present are seated, the next turn commences, with the next member in order of seniority among those present then starting a period as designated speaker or designated commenter, whichever applies.

 

Voting

After a proposal is made, there is one cycle of commentary, during which the current designated speaker has no special privileges but the current commenter may speak to comment only. Immediately after a cycle of commentary ends with the end of the turn of the most junior member present, there commences a one-minute period during which the members present may vote in favor of the proposed resolution by raising hands.  The number of votes counted for a proposition is the maximum number raised at once during the voting period.  If a majority of all members of the organization have raised hands simultaneously at any point during the voting minute, the proposition is adopted as a resolution of the organization.  Otherwise, the resolution fails.  After the voting period, all other speaker actions are void until a speaker has stated the vote count and outcome.

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Adjournment

Once the least senior member present has had a turn as designated speaker during a cycle, a new cycle of turns to speak commences, starting with the most senior member present.  Cycles of speakers continue indefinitely.  A business meeting ends when a majority of organization members is not present, or when a resolution to end the meeting is adopted. 

 

Points of Order

All members should attend to what the rules call for and act accordingly, and any member may unofficially speak to point out when these rules dictate something but it isn't happening.   Actions in violation of the rules of order, or dependent on such violations, are void.

 

Founding

Organizations can be founded by an individual founder establishing the organization by name as operating under particular rules with the founder initially as the only member.  Organizations can also create subordinate organizations. 

 

Precedence

Subsequent resolutions of an organization take precedence over earlier resolutions of that organization where they conflict, except that a resolution approved unanimously by the membership can only be superseded by another unanimous resolution.  The resolutions of a superior organization bind its subordinate organizations and take precedence over any resolutions the subordinate organization makes for itself.