Re: [WDDM] A Charter Proposal for WDDM

["M. Kolar" <wddm(at)mkolar.org>]

I second it,
Mirek

P.S. I am willing to accept the whole charter without any change for now to
speed things up.
Alternatively, if there is some other discussion on article 8, I propose to
have the members of the executive selected instead by sortition from the poll
of members who are willing to serve on it.


Mark Antell, editor CitizenPowerMagazine.net wrote:

> Hi All,
> Hope youall like this proposal.  I mean it to represent requirements
> stated in discussion over the earlier posting: "Toward a Charter."  The
> proposal will need a few seconds before it can be considered a motion
> for vote.
> Mark
>
> -------------------------
>
> Charter Proposal for WDDM, Feb 28, 2007
>
> 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
> Posted at www.world-wide-democracy.net
>
> 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 or group of members 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.