WDDM Home DISCUSSION ON HOW TO PROMOTE DIRECT (TRUE) DEMOCRACY

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Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President
Posted by: mantell (IP Logged)
Date: June 23, 2007 05:32AM

Hi Mirek,


You've proposed a queuing process for dealing with proposals. How's this as an alternative?


I start off agreeing with you that getting proposals through deliberation and on to decision is a priority; and I share your disappointment that it hasn't happened yet (excepting perhaps the current referendum on the Executive Board Communications Forum).


But I think that the charter already has a pretty fair outline of a process for acting on proposals (articles 9, 10, and 11). The charter process includes the following steps:
1. Proposal is posted. The proposal is 'owned' by the proposer
2. Discussion occurs.
3. The proposal is either seconded 'as is,' or it is modified and re-proposed for discussion and seconds.
4. For this year, a proposal only requires three seconds to become a motion.
5. The motion is posted for discussion and vote.
Timeframes for each step are included in the charter as well.


The advantages of this process are that it allows deliberation early on, during the proposal formulation stage, and the proposer retains ownership of the proposal. Further, a number of specifics are not stated, so there's room for experimentation. But perhaps it is complex and people are put off, particularly because it's an unproven process.


If complexity and unfamiliarity are the problem, here's a possible solution:

For each proposal, one executive board member will take responsibility to provide guidance and assistance in the deliberative and decisional process. That doesn't mean the board member has to agree with the proposal. It just means that they commit to raising the proposal for deliberation; and they commit to helping with taking it to vote. To the degree that a new method for deliberation or decision is being considered by the proposer, that board member would confirm consensus permission from the executive board and electoral tribune.


Reactions?


Mark





I include the Charter below:


Charter for WDDM


I. Charter Review and Adoption Process


1. The sponsor for this charter proposal is Mark Antell. If 10% of the membership second this proposal it will be considered a charter motion. Due to uncertainties about the current membership, this requirement shall be met by 3 seconds. The charter motion will then be posted for a two week period of discussion and voting. The charter will be considered adopted if it receives 66% approval by the voting membership. Individual points of the charter motion are separable so it would be possible, for example, to adopt several principles without necessarily adopting any or all of the proposed business rules.



II. Principles of WDDM.


2. Definition
Direct democracy means enhancement and broadening of initiative, referendum and recall. It also means improved methods for deliberation and discourse.


3. Mission Statement
Not adopted.


4. Organizational Goals.

WDDM is dedicated to the study, education, and implementation of direct democracy, deliberation, and consensus at all levels of governance from the local to the supra-national level. Our immediate goal is to develop a multilingual global network of websites and offline efforts committed to encouraging more direct democratic processes for public policy decision making.


5. Membership.
Membership is limited to those who tend to think that governance would be improved by expansion and facilitation of direct democracy, deliberation and consensus. Members must also commit to review proposals and vote on motions. Further, members commit to civility towards each other, and respect for minority opinions. After all, we have similar goals.


6. Organizational Methods - commitment to direct democracy
WDDM will be an exemplar for direct democracy. As much as possible, decision making power will flow from direct vote of the membership. And we will strive to test and implement cutting-edge methods to enhance deliberation.


7. Organizational Methods - encouraging discourse
WDDM shall continue to maintain a Bulletin Board to which all members may post proposals or opinions. Many electronic BBS systems are afflicted with a problem that they provide high visibility to the most aggressive multiple posters. The executive board shall propose (for membership adoption) methods to calm this problem.



III. Business Rules


8. Structure
We will start with a very simple structure: a three member executive board - elected for a one year term by majority vote from a self nominated slate of candidates. Executive board communications, and other committee communications shall be open for review by the membership.


9. Initiative.

Initiative means a process which allows the membership to raise an issue for discussion and to bring it to binding vote of the membership.
Any member may post an initiative for discussion. If, after a discussion period of no less than one month, 10% of the membership agree to second the proposal, then it will be posted as a motion. Due to uncertainties about the current membership, for 2007 the seconding requirement shall be met by 3 seconds.


10. Approval of Initiative Motions
Motions shall open for vote for two weeks after posting. Business motions are adopted by a simple majority vote. Charter modification motions require a super-majority (of those voting) of 66%.


11. Referenda on Executive Board Decisions.

Referendum is a process whereby actions of a governing body are brought to the membership for validation.
The executive board is empowered to pass temporary business motions; however executive board decisions will be posted for referendum vote. A simple majority of voting members is required to confirm executive board business motions. Decisions not approved will cease to have any force.
The executive board is also empowered to interpret the charter, subject to validation by the membership as above.


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Subject Views Written By Posted
  WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 386 mantell 06/15/2007 09:37AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 226 BrEggum 06/15/2007 10:14AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 221 WebMaster 06/16/2007 10:07AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 199 mantell 06/16/2007 11:27AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 218 BrEggum 06/16/2007 01:44PM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 236 mantell 06/23/2007 05:32AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 210 BrEggum 06/23/2007 07:36AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 201 WebMaster 06/23/2007 08:11AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 197 BrEggum 06/23/2007 08:54AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 205 WebMaster 06/23/2007 10:02AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 272 BrEggum 06/23/2007 10:47AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 219 nicothed 06/26/2007 04:45AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 230 BrEggum 06/26/2007 08:12AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 193 BrEggum 06/26/2007 11:25AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 199 BrEggum 07/01/2007 12:32PM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 197 BrEggum 06/16/2007 01:54PM
  Let's just try it. 217 mantell 06/16/2007 03:05PM
  Re: Let's just try it. 210 BrEggum 06/16/2007 04:52PM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 207 mantell 06/19/2007 04:19PM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 210 BrEggum 06/19/2007 04:57PM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 219 WebMaster 06/22/2007 10:57AM
  Re: WDDM Proposal - Endorse Gravel for President 210 BrEggum 06/22/2007 12:38PM


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