From 55391a2a32f7cfcac2f2caa8700eaca2d6dc6abd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: John Ericson Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:35:14 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 1/3] Replace "position" with "seat" in two places "Position" is elsewhere used in a different context, and "seat" is elsewhere always used in this context (i.e. to mean one of the 7 "slots" of the SC that may or may not be filled). This makes the terminology more consistent. --- doc/constitution.md | 4 ++-- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/constitution.md b/doc/constitution.md index 4228ad6..cee4a0c 100644 --- a/doc/constitution.md +++ b/doc/constitution.md @@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ If it is impossible to find sufficient members to resign, all members with that #### Special Elections -In the event of a resignation or other loss of a steering committee member (including a [removal for conduct](#removal-for-conduct)), a special election for that position may be held if the SC deems it necessary, or the SC does not have half of the normal size. -Otherwise, the missing positions are assumed to be abstaining from all the SC votes. +In the event of a resignation or other loss of a steering committee member (including a [removal for conduct](#removal-for-conduct)), a special election for that seat may be held if the SC deems it necessary, or the SC does not have half of the normal size. +Otherwise, the missing seats are assumed to be abstaining from all the SC votes. A committee member elected in a special election will serve out the remainder of the term of the person they are replacing, regardless of the length of that remainder. #### Full Reelections From 635a5fd2ba7d44743101c67709ff756252c6999c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: John Ericson Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:29:08 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 2/3] Document initial elections in general Since "initial election" is a concept which may occur more than once, lets make that the primary focus of the first SC election, and let's make the very first election extra procedure (which no longer applies anyways) a subsection within it. --- doc/constitution.md | 14 ++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/constitution.md b/doc/constitution.md index cee4a0c..01fc9c4 100644 --- a/doc/constitution.md +++ b/doc/constitution.md @@ -173,9 +173,12 @@ One option is to use [proportional representation mode from Condorcet Internet V In any election where seats with different end-of-term dates are available, winning candidates with higher final election rankings are appointed to the longer terms. -#### Special considerations for the first SC election +#### Initial Elections -- To stagger the terms, the first election will appoint half the members rounded up with 2-year terms and the remaining members with 1-year terms. +An initial election of the entire SC must appoint half the members rounded up with 2-year terms and the remaining members with 1-year terms. +This occurs with the first SC election, and also may occur in the event the SC is [dissolved](#full-reelections). + +Additionally, the following rules apply to the very first election: - The EC for the first election will be the members of the [Nix Constitutional Assembly (NCA)](https://github.com/nixos/nix-constitutional-assembly?tab=readme-ov-file#members), which are thus ineligible to be elected for the first SC - All nominees become candidates for the first election, because there's no existing SC that would decide over disqualifying candidates. - And to help the first elected SC establish itself, members of the NCA are integrated into the SC as non-voting members for 6 months after the appointment. @@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ After all candidates are known and before the voting period starts, the EC must Furthermore, there is a hard maximum of two members with the same CoI at any time. If this condition is suspected to be violated because of job changes, acquisitions, or other events, all non-involved currently serving SC members will have a simple majority decision over whether there is a violation. In case it is deemed a violation, sufficient members of the committee must resign until the max representation limit is achieved. -If it is impossible to find sufficient members to resign, all members with that same CoI will be removed and a new special election shall be held. +If it is impossible to find sufficient members to resign, all members with that same CoI will be removed and a new [special election] shall be held. #### Special Elections @@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ A committee member elected in a special election will serve out the remainder of #### Full Reelections A simple majority within the SC may call a reelection of the entire SC based on perceived loss of confidence. -In this case, it also has to be decided whether this election is considered a special election for the remainders of all the corresponding terms, or an initial election for full 2-year terms for half of the seats rounded up and 1-year half-terms for the remaining seats. +In this case, it also has to be decided whether this election is considered a [special election] for the remainders of all the corresponding terms, or an [initial election] for full 2-year terms for half of the seats rounded up and 1-year half-terms for the remaining seats. Vacant seats vote in favour of reelection, and between initial election and special election they count towards special election. ### Removal for conduct @@ -214,3 +217,6 @@ The reasons include but are not limited to unfitting conduct and unavailability, The SC is explicitly expected to be held to higher standards than applied to project communication in general. The removal can be justification for a special election where the removed person is not eligible to be a candidate. + +[special election]: #special-elections +[initial election]: #special-elections From 6cd2f55497e97f2b3f5efb1b04bb9a0e8df7f2dd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: John Ericson Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:39:08 -0500 Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Level- not edge- trigger for special special elections Right now the language is written in an "edge trigger" manner (i.e. "if a seat becomes vacant..."). But I believe the intent is in fact a "level trigger" (e.g. "when some seats are vacant...."). This switches the language to level triggering. As a consequence, it is also explicit that at the time the SC decides to hold a special election, more than one seat might be vacant. --- doc/constitution.md | 6 +++++- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/doc/constitution.md b/doc/constitution.md index 01fc9c4..af6df20 100644 --- a/doc/constitution.md +++ b/doc/constitution.md @@ -200,10 +200,14 @@ If it is impossible to find sufficient members to resign, all members with that #### Special Elections -In the event of a resignation or other loss of a steering committee member (including a [removal for conduct](#removal-for-conduct)), a special election for that seat may be held if the SC deems it necessary, or the SC does not have half of the normal size. +In the event of resignations or other loss of steering committee members (including [removals for conduct](#removal-for-conduct)), the SC would have less than all 7 seats filled. + +When one or more seats are vacant, a special election may be held for those vacant seats. Otherwise, the missing seats are assumed to be abstaining from all the SC votes. A committee member elected in a special election will serve out the remainder of the term of the person they are replacing, regardless of the length of that remainder. +A special election for vacant seats may be held if the SC deems it necessary, or the SC does not have half of the normal size. + #### Full Reelections A simple majority within the SC may call a reelection of the entire SC based on perceived loss of confidence.