[Cz-editcouncil] Mistaken posting

[Larry Sanger]

David wrote:

Yes, step 3 of [[CZ:Editorial Council How to Make a Resolution]] tells me to
add my resolution to the complete list, and then also add it to the #initial
proposals page, which I did not have permission for.  So, I couldn't do
that.  Also, the instruction page doesn't suggest that only the EC Chair or
Secretary should be doing things, which I think Martin mentioned the other
day. I also found myself in a redirect loop bouncing between some of the
pages.  

The initial proposals list, on [[CZ:Editorial Council]], is now unprotected
(as it should be)--it was news to me that it had been protected--so now
(once again) any Member can add a new resolution to that page.  I'm not sure
how the following idea was started, but it's incorrect that only the EC
Chair and Secretary may add info about new resolutions; there isn't anything
in the rules that says so.  The lists of resolutions are public records and
there is no reason to restrict editing of them, in my opinion at least; if
there is any dispute about what should be placed there, such disputes can be
handled separately, but it is in keeping with the bottom-up (not to mention
democratic) spirit of this project that anyone can start a resolution.

I would write the directions, on one page, something like this:
 
(blurp about proposal system and forum discussions)
 
1: Write the draft resolution, following [[this example]] and place it at
"CZ:Draft Resolution nnnn' or your private sandbox'
2: Ask for sponsors at editcouncil at mail.citizendium.org
3. When 3 or more sponsors have signed on, the lead sponsor should ask the
"EC Secretary" (currently ''name") to add it to the EC resolutions lists.
He/She will copy the draft resolution to the following:

  CZ:Editorial Council Resolutions Complete List
<http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_Resolutions_Complete_Li
st> . 
CZ:Editorial Council <http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council>
and, in particular, the "Initial resolutions
<http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council#Initial_resolutions> "
section. 
 
4. Private discussions and edits by the sponsors will occur for 1 week.
 
5. Move to adopt  the resolution, via email to
editcouncil at mail.citizendium.org , " I move the adoption of Resolution NNNN,
found at ....

Well, this not only changes the wording of the instructions, it actually
would change the procedure itself.  I'm not meaning to seem pedantic in the
following, but I think it's reasonably important that we all understand and
agree upon our most basic rules of procedure.  (By the way, if you are
proposing to change the rules, that's your right--to do so, you can make a
resolution!  :-)  )
 
As to (1), we have never asked people to put links to resolutions anywhere
other than where the clearly rules say to put them (i.e., the two places you
list in your step 3).  A resolution becomes an official resolution only when
it garners the support of three Council members and when the Chair moves it
from "Initial resolutions" (not proposals) to "The Agenda," which is a
section of [[CZ:Editorial Council]].
 
As to (3), the lead sponsor does not ask the Secretary to add it to the
lists; rather, the lead sponsor adds it him- or herself to those lists even
before writing the resolution!  Moreover, it is not the Secretary who
controls whether a resolution moves onto the queue, or from one point in the
queue to another, but the Chair.  The Secretary makes sure that all other
records are in order.  (The current instructions are very clear and explicit
on these points.)
 
As to (4), the first stage in the discussion of any resolution is always a
silent comment period in which we send our comments to the Secretary, who
then posts them publicly all at the same time; these are not "private
discussions" between people but an initial statement of opinion, which
attempts to avoid the echo chamber effect.  (I recommend reading The Wisdom
of Crowds on this.  The point is that the initial voices in any discussion
tend to be amplified both unfairly and irrationally, drowning out later
voices; better to let everyone make first statements all at the same time,
so that as a forum we may benefit from the greatest breadth of opinion.)
Moreover, the silent comment period may be more or less than a week; the
rules specify a minimum length of time but do not provide any exact length
of time for that or any discussion period.  Perhaps you have this confused
silent comment period with discussion that happens outside the official
purview of the Council, before a resolution is officially introduced.
 
As to (5), this should be moved in between 1 and 2.  Before any body
following parliamentary procedure can consider a resolution, the resolution
must be moved.
 
Again, for a brief, reasonably clear, and accurate explanation of what our
procedure is, see the first section of this page:
 
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_Rules_of_Procedure
 
And for a brief, clear, and precisely accurate explanation of how to create
a new resolution, until we change these rules anyway, go here:
 
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_How_to_Make_a_Resolution
 
These rules may be changed recursively.  :-)
 
--Larry
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