Charter Proposal for WDDM

["Annette Jackson" <aja95799(at)bigpond.net.au>]

I Martin Jackson vote in favour the below charter

Charter Proposal for WDDM, unmodified from the Feb 28, 2007 posting.


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.  (Sponsor's note: This requirement has been met).  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 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.