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r10636 - in /packages/trunk/doc-debian: debian/changelog debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text doc/Makefile doc/constitution.1.4.wml doc/constitution.wml



Author: jfs
Date: Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
New Revision: 10636

URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/?sc=1&rev=10636
Log:

Patch provided by Stefano Zacchiroli:

 * Update the Constitution to version 1.5, as per "General Resolution:
   Limiting the term of the technical committee members",
   https://www.debian.org/vote/2014/vote_004 (Closes: #777350)


Added:
    packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.1.4.wml
Modified:
    packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/changelog
    packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text
    packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/Makefile
    packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.wml

Modified: packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/changelog
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/changelog?rev=10636&op=diff
==============================================================================
--- packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/changelog	(original)
+++ packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/changelog	Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+doc-debian (6.3) unstable; urgency=medium
+
+  [ Stefano Zacchiroli ]
+  * Update the Constitution to version 1.5, as per "General Resolution:
+    Limiting the term of the technical committee members",
+    https://www.debian.org/vote/2014/vote_004 (Closes: #777350)
+
+ -- Stefano Zacchiroli <zack@debian.org>  Tue, 10 Feb 2015 10:39:43 +0100
+
 doc-debian (6.2) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * Team upload

Modified: packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text?rev=10636&op=diff
==============================================================================
--- packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text	(original)
+++ packages/trunk/doc-debian/debian/doc-debian.doc-base.debian-constitution-text	Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@
 Title: Debian Constitution
 Author: The Debian Project
 Abstract: This document contains the complete text of Debian Project
- Constitution (v1.3), in text format. Version 1.3 ratified on 
- September 24th, 2006. Supersedes version 1.2 ratified on October 
- 29th, 2003. Supersedes Version 1.1 ratified on June 21st, 2003, 
- which itself supersedes Version 1.0 ratified on December 2nd, 1998
+ Constitution (v1.5), in text format. Version 1.5, ratified on
+ January 9th, 2015, supersedes Version 1.4, ratified on October 7th,
+ 2007, Version 1.3 ratified on September 24th, 2006, version 1.2
+ ratified on October 29th, 2003, Version 1.1 ratified on June 21st,
+ 2003, which itself supersedes Version 1.0 ratified on December 2nd,
+ 1998.
 Section: Debian
 
 Format: text

Modified: packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/Makefile
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/Makefile?rev=10636&op=diff
==============================================================================
--- packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/Makefile	(original)
+++ packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/Makefile	Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 bug-log-mailserver.wml      bug-reporting.wml         \
 bug-mailserver-refcard.wml  constitution.wml          social-contract.wml    \
 bug-maint-info.wml          constitution.1.1.wml      social-contract.1.0.wml \
-constitution.1.2.wml        social-contract.wml 	  constitution.1.3.wml
+constitution.1.2.wml        social-contract.wml 	  constitution.1.3.wml \
+constitution.1.4.wml
 
 # These are the automatic files we can generate:
 TXTFILES = $(subst .wml,.txt,$(WMLFILES))

Added: packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.1.4.wml
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.1.4.wml?rev=10636&op=file
==============================================================================
--- packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.1.4.wml	(added)
+++ packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.1.4.wml	Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
@@ -0,0 +1,968 @@
+
+<h1>Constitution for the Debian Project (v1.4)</h1>
+ 
+
+<p>Version 1.4 ratified on October 7th, 2007. Supersedes
+<a href="constitution.1.3">Version 1.3</a> ratified on September 24th,
+2006,
+<a href="constitution.1.2">Version 1.2</a> ratified on October 29th,
+2003 and
+<a href="constitution.1.1">Version 1.1</a> ratified on June 21st,
+2003, which itself supersedes <a href="constitution.1.0">Version 1.0</a>
+ratified on December 2nd, 1998.</p>
+
+<toc-display />
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-1">1. Introduction</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<p><cite>The Debian Project is an association of individuals who have
+made common cause to create a free operating system.</cite></p>
+
+<p>This document describes the organisational structure for formal
+decision-making in the Project.  It does not describe the goals of the
+Project or how it achieves them, or contain any policies except those
+directly related to the decision-making process.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-2">2. Decision-making bodies and individuals</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<p>Each decision in the Project is made by one or more of the
+following:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>The Developers, by way of General Resolution or an election;</li>
+
+  <li>The Project Leader;</li>
+
+  <li>The Technical Committee and/or its Chairman;</li>
+
+  <li>The individual Developer working on a particular task;</li>
+
+  <li>Delegates appointed by the Project Leader for specific
+  tasks;</li>
+
+  <li>The Project Secretary.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<p>Most of the remainder of this document will outline the powers of
+these bodies, their composition and appointment, and the procedure for
+their decision-making.  The powers of a person or body may be subject to
+review and/or limitation by others; in this case the reviewing body or
+person's entry will state this.  <cite>In the list above, a person or
+body is usually listed before any people or bodies whose decisions they
+can overrule or who they (help) appoint - but not everyone listed
+earlier can overrule everyone listed later.</cite></p>
+
+<h3>2.1. General rules</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Nothing in this constitution imposes an obligation on anyone to
+    do work for the Project.  A person who does not want to do a task
+    which has been delegated or assigned to them does not need to do
+    it.  However, they must not actively work against these rules and
+    decisions properly made under them.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>A person may hold several posts, except that the Project Leader,
+    Project Secretary and the Chairman of the Technical Committee must
+    be distinct, and that the Leader cannot appoint themselves as their
+    own Delegate.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>A person may leave the Project or resign from a particular post
+    they hold, at any time, by stating so publicly.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-3">3. Individual Developers</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>3.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>An individual Developer may</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>make any technical or nontechnical decision with regard to their
+  own work;</li>
+
+  <li>propose or sponsor draft General Resolutions;</li>
+
+  <li>propose themselves as a Project Leader candidate in
+  elections;</li>
+
+  <li>vote on General Resolutions and in Leadership elections.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>3.2. Composition and appointment</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Developers are volunteers who agree to further the aims of the
+    Project insofar as they participate in it, and who maintain
+    package(s) for the Project or do other work which the Project
+    Leader's Delegate(s) consider worthwhile.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>The Project Leader's Delegate(s) may choose not to admit new
+    Developers, or expel existing Developers.  <cite>If the Developers
+    feel that the Delegates are abusing their authority they can of
+    course override the decision by way of General Resolution - see
+    &sect;4.1(3), &sect;4.2.</cite></p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>3.3. Procedure</h3>
+
+<p>Developers may make these decisions as they see fit.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-4">4. The Developers by way of General Resolution or election</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>4.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>Together, the Developers may:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Appoint or recall the Project Leader.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Amend this constitution, provided they agree with a 3:1
+    majority.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make or override any decision authorised by the powers of the Project
+    Leader or a Delegate.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make or override any decision authorised by the powers of the Technical
+    Committee, provided they agree with a 2:1 majority.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Issue, supersede and withdraw nontechnical policy documents and
+       statements.</p>
+
+    <p>These include documents describing the goals of the project, its
+       relationship with other free software entities, and nontechnical
+       policies such as the free software licence terms that Debian
+       software must meet.</p>
+
+    <p>They may also include position statements about issues of the
+    day.</p>
+    
+    <ol style="list-style: decimal;">
+      <li>A Foundation Document is a document or statement regarded as
+       critical to the Project's mission and purposes.</li>
+      <li>The Foundation Documents are the works entitled <q>Debian
+       Social Contract</q> and <q>Debian Free Software Guidelines</q>.</li>
+      <li>A Foundation Document requires a 3:1 majority for its
+       supersession.  New Foundation Documents are issued and
+       existing ones withdrawn by amending the list of Foundation
+       Documents in this constitution.</li>
+    </ol>
+
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make decisions about property held in trust for purposes
+    related to Debian. (See &sect;9.).</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>In case of a disagreement between the project leader and
+    the incumbent secretary, appoint a new secretary.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>4.2. Procedure</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>The Developers follow the Standard Resolution Procedure, below.
+    A resolution or amendment is introduced if proposed by any
+    Developer and sponsored by at least K other Developers, or if
+    proposed by the Project Leader or the Technical Committee.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Delaying a decision by the Project Leader or their Delegate:</p>
+
+    <ol>
+      <li>If the Project Leader or their Delegate, or the Technical
+      Committee, has made a decision, then Developers can override them
+      by passing a resolution to do so; see &sect;4.1(3).</li>
+
+      <li>If such a resolution is sponsored by at least 2K Developers,
+      or if it is proposed by the Technical Committee, the resolution
+      puts the decision immediately on hold (provided that resolution
+      itself says so).</li>
+
+      <li>If the original decision was to change a discussion period or
+      a voting period, or the resolution is to override the Technical
+      Committee, then only K Developers need to sponsor the resolution
+      to be able to put the decision immediately on hold.</li>
+
+      <li>If the decision is put on hold, an immediate vote is held to
+      determine whether the decision will stand until the full vote on
+      the decision is made or whether the implementation of the
+      original decision will be delayed until then.  There is no
+      quorum for this immediate procedural vote.</li>
+
+      <li>If the Project Leader (or the Delegate) withdraws the
+      original decision, the vote becomes moot, and is no longer
+      conducted.</li>
+    </ol>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>
+       Votes are taken by the Project Secretary. Votes, tallies, and
+       results are not revealed during the voting period; after the
+       vote the Project Secretary lists all the votes cast. The voting
+       period is 2 weeks, but may be varied by up to 1 week by the
+       Project Leader.
+    </p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>The minimum discussion period is 2 weeks, but may be varied by
+    up to 1 week by the Project Leader.  The Project Leader has a
+    casting vote.  There is a quorum of 3Q.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Proposals, sponsors, amendments, calls for votes and other
+    formal actions are made by announcement on a publicly-readable
+    electronic mailing list designated by the Project Leader's
+    Delegate(s); any Developer may post there.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Votes are cast by email in a manner suitable to the Secretary.
+    The Secretary determines for each poll whether voters can change
+    their votes.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Q is half of the square root of the number of current
+    Developers.  K is Q or 5, whichever is the smaller.  Q and K need not
+    be integers and are not rounded.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-5">5. Project Leader</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>5.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>The <a href="leader">Project Leader</a> may:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Appoint Delegates or delegate decisions to the Technical
+    Committee.</p>
+
+    <p>The Leader may define an area of ongoing responsibility or a
+    specific decision and hand it over to another Developer or to the
+    Technical Committee.</p>
+
+    <p>Once a particular decision has been delegated and made the
+    Project Leader may not withdraw that delegation; however, they may
+    withdraw an ongoing delegation of particular area of
+    responsibility.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Lend authority to other Developers.</p>
+
+    <p>The Project Leader may make statements of support for points of
+    view or for other members of the project, when asked or otherwise;
+    these statements have force if and only if the Leader would be
+    empowered to make the decision in question.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make any decision which requires urgent action.</p>
+
+    <p>This does not apply to decisions which have only become
+    gradually urgent through lack of relevant action, unless there is a
+    fixed deadline.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make any decision for whom noone else has responsibility.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Propose draft General Resolutions and amendments.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Together with the Technical Committee, appoint new members to
+    the Committee.  (See &sect;6.2.)</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Use a casting vote when Developers vote.</p>
+
+    <p>The Project Leader also has a normal vote in such ballots.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Vary the discussion period for Developers' votes (as above).</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Lead discussions amongst Developers.</p>
+
+    <p>The Project Leader should attempt to participate in discussions
+    amongst the Developers in a helpful way which seeks to bring the
+    discussion to bear on the key issues at hand.  The Project Leader
+    should not use the Leadership position to promote their own
+    personal views.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>In consultation with the developers, make decisions affecting
+    property held in trust for purposes related to Debian. (See
+    &sect;9.). Such decisions are communicated to the members by the
+    Project Leader or their Delegate(s). Major expenditures
+    should be proposed and debated on the mailing list before
+    funds are disbursed.</p>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    <p>Add or remove organizations from the list of trusted
+    organizations (see &sect;9.3) that are authorized to accept and
+    hold assets for Debian. The evaluation and discussion leading
+    up to such a decision occurs on an electronic mailing list
+    designated by the Project Leader or their Delegate(s), on
+    which any developer may post. There is a minimum discussion
+    period of two weeks before an organization may be added to
+    the list of trusted organizations.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>5.2. Appointment</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>The Project Leader is elected by the Developers.</li>
+
+  <li>The election begins six weeks before the leadership post becomes
+  vacant, or (if it is too late already) immediately.</li>
+
+  <li>For the first week any Developer may nominate
+  themselves as a candidate Project Leader, and summarize their plans for their term.</li>
+
+  <li>For three weeks after that no more candidates may be nominated;
+  candidates should use this time for campaigning and discussion.  If
+  there are no candidates at the end of the nomination period then the
+  nomination period is extended for an additional week, repeatedly if
+  necessary.</li>
+
+  <li>The next two weeks are the polling period during which
+  Developers may cast their votes.  Votes in leadership elections are
+  kept secret, even after the election is finished.</li>
+
+  <li>The options on the ballot will be those candidates who have
+  nominated themselves and have not yet withdrawn, plus None Of The
+  Above.  If None Of The Above wins the election then the election
+  procedure is repeated, many times if necessary.</li>
+
+  <li>
+       The decision will be made using the method specified in section
+       &sect;A.6 of the Standard Resolution Procedure.  The quorum is the
+       same as for a General Resolution (&sect;4.2) and the default
+       option is <q>None Of The Above</q>.
+  </li>
+
+  <li>The Project Leader serves for one year from their election.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>5.3. Procedure</h3>
+
+<p>The Project Leader should attempt to make decisions which are
+consistent with the consensus of the opinions of the Developers.</p>
+
+<p>Where practical the Project Leader should informally solicit the
+views of the Developers.</p>
+
+<p>The Project Leader should avoid overemphasizing their own point of
+view when making decisions in their capacity as Leader.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-6">6. Technical committee</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>6.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>The <a href="tech-ctte">Technical Committee</a> may:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Decide on any matter of technical policy.</p>
+
+    <p>This includes the contents of the technical policy manuals,
+    developers' reference materials, example packages and the behaviour
+    of non-experimental package building tools.  (In each case the usual
+    maintainer of the relevant software or documentation makes
+    decisions initially, however; see 6.3(5).)</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Decide any technical matter where Developers' jurisdictions
+    overlap.</p>
+
+    <p>In cases where Developers need to implement compatible
+    technical policies or stances (for example, if they disagree about
+    the priorities of conflicting packages, or about ownership of a
+    command name, or about which package is responsible for a bug that
+    both maintainers agree is a bug, or about who should be the
+    maintainer for a package) the technical committee may decide the
+    matter.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Make a decision when asked to do so.</p>
+
+    <p>Any person or body may delegate a decision of their own to the
+    Technical Committee, or seek advice from it.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Overrule a Developer (requires a 3:1 majority).</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee may ask a Developer to take a
+    particular technical course of action even if the Developer does
+    not wish to; this requires a 3:1 majority.  For example, the
+    Committee may determine that a complaint made by the submitter of a
+    bug is justified and that the submitter's proposed solution should
+    be implemented.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Offer advice.</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee may make formal announcements about its
+    views on any matter.  <cite>Individual members may of course make
+    informal statements about their views and about the likely views of
+    the committee.</cite></p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Together with the Project Leader, appoint new members to itself
+    or remove existing members.  (See &sect;6.2.)</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Appoint the Chairman of the Technical Committee.</p>
+
+    <p>
+       The Chairman is elected by the Committee from its members. All
+       members of the committee are automatically nominated; the
+       committee votes starting one week before the post will become
+       vacant (or immediately, if it is already too late). The members
+       may vote by public acclamation for any fellow committee member,
+       including themselves; there is no default option. The vote
+       finishes when all the members have voted, or when the voting
+       period has ended. The result is determined using the method
+       specified in section A.6 of the Standard Resolution Procedure.
+   </p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>The Chairman can stand in for the Leader, together with the
+    Secretary</p>
+
+    <p>As detailed in &sect;7.1(2), the Chairman of the Technical
+    Committee and the Project Secretary may together stand in for the
+    Leader if there is no Leader.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>6.2. Composition</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>The Technical Committee consists of up to 8 Developers, and
+    should usually have at least 4 members.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>When there are fewer than 8 members the Technical Committee may
+    recommend new member(s) to the Project Leader, who may choose
+    (individually) to appoint them or not.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>When there are 5 members or fewer the Technical Committee may
+    appoint new member(s) until the number of members reaches 6.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>When there have been 5 members or fewer for at least one week
+    the Project Leader may appoint new member(s) until the number of
+    members reaches 6, at intervals of at least one week per
+    appointment.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>If the Technical Committee and the Project Leader agree they
+    may remove or replace an existing member of the Technical
+    Committee.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>6.3. Procedure</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>The Technical Committee uses the Standard Resolution
+    Procedure.</p>
+
+    <p>A draft resolution or amendment may be proposed by any member
+    of the Technical Committee.  There is no minimum discussion period;
+    the voting period lasts for up to one week, or until the outcome is
+    no longer in doubt.  Members may change their votes.  There is a
+    quorum of two.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Details regarding voting</p>
+
+    <p>The Chairman has a casting vote.  When the Technical Committee
+    votes whether to override a Developer who also happens to be a
+    member of the Committee, that member may not vote (unless they are
+    the Chairman, in which case they may use only their casting
+    vote).</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Public discussion and decision-making.</p>
+
+    <p>Discussion, draft resolutions and amendments, and votes by
+    members of the committee, are made public on the Technical
+    Committee public discussion list.  There is no separate secretary
+    for the Committee.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Confidentiality of appointments.</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee may hold confidential discussions via
+    private email or a private mailing list or other means to discuss
+    appointments to the Committee.  However, votes on appointments must
+    be public.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>No detailed design work.</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee does not engage in design of new
+    proposals and policies.  Such design work should be carried out by
+    individuals privately or together and discussed in ordinary
+    technical policy and design forums.</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee restricts itself to choosing from or
+    adopting compromises between solutions and decisions which have
+    been proposed and reasonably thoroughly discussed elsewhere.</p>
+
+    <p><cite>Individual members of the technical committee may of
+    course participate on their own behalf in any aspect of design and
+    policy work.</cite></p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Technical Committee makes decisions only as last resort.</p>
+
+    <p>The Technical Committee does not make a technical decision
+    until efforts to resolve it via consensus have been tried and
+    failed, unless it has been asked to make a decision by the person
+    or body who would normally be responsible for it.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-7">7. The Project Secretary</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>7.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>The <a href="secretary">Secretary</a>:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Takes votes amongst the Developers, and determines the number
+    and identity of Developers, whenever this is required by the
+    constitution.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Can stand in for the Leader, together with the Chairman of the
+    Technical Committee.</p>
+
+    <p>If there is no Project Leader then the Chairman of the
+    Technical Committee and the Project Secretary may by joint
+    agreement make decisions if they consider it imperative to do
+    so.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Adjudicates any disputes about interpretation of the
+    constitution.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>May delegate part or all of their authority to someone else, or
+    withdraw such a delegation at any time.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>7.2. Appointment</h3>
+
+<p>The Project Secretary is appointed by the Project Leader and the
+current Project Secretary.</p>
+
+<p>If the Project Leader and the current Project Secretary cannot agree
+on a new appointment, they must ask the Developers by way of
+General Resolution to appoint a Secretary.</p>
+
+<p>If there is no Project Secretary or the current Secretary is
+unavailable and has not delegated authority for a decision then the
+decision may be made or delegated by the Chairman of the Technical
+Committee, as Acting Secretary.</p>
+
+<p>The Project Secretary's term of office is 1 year, at which point
+they or another Secretary must be (re)appointed.</p>
+
+<h3>7.3. Procedure</h3>
+
+<p>The Project Secretary should make decisions which are fair and
+reasonable, and preferably consistent with the consensus of the
+Developers.</p>
+
+<p>When acting together to stand in for an absent Project Leader the
+Chairman of the Technical Committee and the Project Secretary should
+make decisions only when absolutely necessary and only when consistent
+with the consensus of the Developers.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-8">8. The Project Leader's Delegates</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<h3>8.1. Powers</h3>
+
+<p>The Project Leader's Delegates:</p>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>have powers delegated to them by the Project Leader;</li>
+
+  <li>may make certain decisions which the Leader may not make
+  directly, including approving or expelling Developers or designating
+  people as Developers who do not maintain packages.  <cite>This is to
+  avoid concentration of power, particularly over membership as a
+  Developer, in the hands of the Project Leader.</cite></li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>8.2. Appointment</h3>
+
+<p>The Delegates are appointed by the Project Leader and may be
+replaced by the Leader at the Leader's discretion.  The Project Leader
+may not make the position as a Delegate conditional on particular
+decisions by the Delegate, nor may they override a decision made by a
+Delegate once made.</p>
+
+<h3>8.3. Procedure</h3>
+
+<p>Delegates may make decisions as they see fit, but should attempt to
+implement good technical decisions and/or follow consensus opinion.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-9">9. Assets held in trust for Debian</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<p>In most jurisdictions around the world, the Debian project is not
+in a position to directly hold funds or other property. Therefore,
+property has to be owned by any of a number of organisations as
+detailed in &sect;9.2.</p>
+
+<p>Traditionally, SPI was the sole organisation authorized to hold
+property and monies for the Debian Project. SPI was created in
+the U.S. to hold money in trust there.</p>
+
+<p><a href="http://www.spi-inc.org/";>SPI</a> and Debian are separate
+organisations who share some goals.
+Debian is grateful for the legal support framework offered by SPI.</p>
+
+<h3>9.1. Relationship with Associated Organizations</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>Debian Developers do not become agents or employees of
+    organisations holding assets in trust for Debian, or of
+    each other, or of persons in authority in the Debian Project,
+    solely by the virtue of being Debian Developers. A person
+    acting as a Developer does so as an individual, on their own
+    behalf. Such organisations may, of their own accord,
+    establish relationships with individuals who are also Debian
+    developers.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>9.2. Authority</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+    <p>An organisation holding assets for Debian has no authority
+    regarding Debian's technical or nontechnical decisions, except
+    that no decision by Debian with respect to any property held
+    by the organisation shall require it to act outside its legal
+    authority.</p>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    <p>Debian claims no authority over an organisation that holds
+    assets for Debian other than that over the use of property
+    held in trust for Debian.</p>
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>9.3. Trusted organisations</h3>
+
+<p>Any donations for the Debian Project must be made to any one of a
+set of organisations designated by the Project leader (or a
+delegate) to be authorized to handle assets to be used for the
+Debian Project.</p>
+    
+<p>Organisations holding assets in trust for Debian should
+undertake reasonable obligations for the handling of such
+assets.</p>
+
+<p>Debian maintains a public List of Trusted Organisations that
+accept donations and hold assets in trust for Debian
+(including both tangible property and intellectual property)
+that includes the commitments those organisations have made as
+to how those assets will be handled.</p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-A">A. Standard Resolution Procedure</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<p>These rules apply to communal decision-making by committees and
+plebiscites, where stated above.</p>
+
+<h3>A.1. Proposal</h3>
+
+<p>The formal procedure begins when a draft resolution is proposed and
+sponsored, as required.</p>
+
+<h3>A.1. Discussion and Amendment</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>Following the proposal, the resolution may be discussed.
+  Amendments may be made formal by being proposed and sponsored
+  according to the requirements for a new resolution, or directly by
+  the proposer of the original resolution.</li>
+
+  <li>A formal amendment may be accepted by the resolution's proposer,
+  in which case the formal resolution draft is immediately changed to
+  match.</li>
+
+  <li>If a formal amendment is not accepted, or one of the sponsors of
+  the resolution does not agree with the acceptance by the proposer of
+  a formal amendment, the amendment remains as an amendment and will be
+  voted on.</li>
+
+  <li>If an amendment accepted by the original proposer is not to the
+  liking of others, they may propose another amendment to reverse the
+  earlier change (again, they must meet the requirements for proposer
+  and sponsor(s).)</li>
+
+  <li>The proposer of a resolution may suggest changes to the wordings
+  of amendments; these take effect if the proposer of the amendment
+  agrees and none of the sponsors object.  In this case the changed
+  amendments will be voted on instead of the originals.</li>
+
+  <li>The proposer of a resolution may make changes to correct minor
+  errors (for example, typographical errors or inconsistencies) or
+  changes which do not alter the meaning, providing noone objects
+  within 24 hours.  In this case the minimum discussion period is not
+  restarted.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>A.2. Calling for a vote</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>The proposer or a sponsor of a motion or an amendment may call
+  for a vote, providing that the minimum discussion period (if any) has
+  elapsed.</li>
+
+  <li>
+    The proposer or any sponsor of a resolution may call for a vote on that
+    resolution and all related amendments.
+  </li>
+
+  <li>The person who calls for a vote states what they believe the
+  wordings of the resolution and any relevant amendments are, and
+  consequently what form the ballot should take.  However, the final
+  decision on the form of ballot(s) is the Secretary's - see 7.1(1),
+  7.1(3) and A.3(4).</li>
+
+  <li>
+       The minimum discussion period is counted from the time the last
+       formal amendment was accepted, or since the whole resolution
+       was proposed if no amendments have been proposed and accepted.
+  </li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>A.3. Voting procedure</h3>
+
+<ol>
+  <li>
+       Each resolution and its related amendments is voted on in a
+       single ballot that includes an option for the original
+       resolution, each amendment, and the default option (where
+       applicable).
+   </li>
+
+  <li>
+       The default option must not have any supermajority requirements.
+       Options which do not have an explicit supermajority requirement
+       have a 1:1 majority requirement.
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+       The votes are counted according to the rules in A.6.  The
+       default option is <q>Further Discussion</q>, unless specified
+       otherwise.
+  </li>
+
+  <li>In cases of doubt the Project Secretary shall decide on matters
+  of procedure.</li>
+</ol>
+
+<h3>A.4. Withdrawing resolutions or unaccepted amendments</h3>
+
+<p>The proposer of a resolution or unaccepted amendment may withdraw
+it.  In this case new proposers may come forward keep it alive, in which
+case the first person to do so becomes the new proposer and any others
+become sponsors if they aren't sponsors already.</p>
+
+<p>A sponsor of a resolution or amendment (unless it has been
+accepted) may withdraw.</p>
+
+<p>If the withdrawal of the proposer and/or sponsors means that a
+resolution has no proposer or not enough sponsors it will not be voted
+on unless this is rectified before the resolution expires.</p>
+
+<h3>A.5. Expiry</h3>
+
+<p>
+   If a proposed resolution has not been discussed, amended, voted on or
+   otherwise dealt with for 4 weeks the secretary may issue a statement
+   that the issue is being withdrawn.  If none of the sponsors of any
+   of the proposals object within a week, the issue is withdrawn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+   The secretary may also include suggestions on how to proceed,
+   if appropriate.
+</p>
+
+<h3>A.6. Vote Counting</h3>
+
+<ol>
+   <li> Each voter's ballot ranks the options being voted on.  Not all
+        options need be ranked.  Ranked options are considered
+        preferred to all unranked options.  Voters may rank options
+        equally.  Unranked options are considered to be ranked equally
+        with one another.  Details of how ballots may be filled out
+        will be included in the Call For Votes.
+   </li>
+   <li> If the ballot has a quorum requirement R any options other
+        than the default option which do not receive at least R votes
+        ranking that option above the default option are dropped from
+        consideration.
+   </li>
+   <li> Any (non-default) option which does not defeat the default option
+        by its required majority ratio is dropped from consideration.
+        <ol>
+             <li> 
+                  Given two options A and B, V(A,B) is the number of voters
+                  who prefer option A over option B.
+             </li> 
+             <li> 
+                  An option A defeats the default option D by a majority
+                  ratio N, if V(A,D) is strictly greater than N * V(D,A).
+             </li> 
+             <li> 
+                  If a supermajority of S:1 is required for A, its majority ratio
+                  is S; otherwise, its majority ratio is 1.
+             </li> 
+        </ol>
+   </li>
+   <li> From the list of undropped options, we generate a list of
+        pairwise defeats.
+        <ol>
+             <li>
+                  An option A defeats an option B, if V(A,B) is strictly greater
+                  than V(B,A).
+             </li> 
+        </ol>
+   </li>
+   <li> From the list of [undropped] pairwise defeats, we generate a
+        set of transitive defeats.
+        <ol>
+             <li> 
+                  An option A transitively defeats an option C if A defeats
+                  C or if there is some other option B where A defeats B AND
+                  B transitively defeats C.
+             </li> 
+        </ol>
+   </li>
+   <li> We construct the Schwartz set from the set of transitive defeats.
+        <ol>
+             <li> 
+                  An option A is in the Schwartz set if for all options B,
+                  either A transitively defeats B, or B does not transitively
+                 defeat A.
+             </li> 
+        </ol>
+   </li>
+   <li> If there are defeats between options in the Schwartz set,
+        we drop the weakest such defeats from the list of pairwise
+        defeats, and return to step 5.
+        <ol>
+             <li> 
+                  A defeat (A,X) is weaker than a defeat (B,Y) if V(A,X)
+                  is less than V(B,Y).  Also, (A,X) is weaker than (B,Y) if
+                  V(A,X) is equal to V(B,Y) and V(X,A) is greater than V(Y,B).
+             </li> 
+             <li> 
+                  A weakest defeat is a defeat that has no other defeat weaker
+                  than it.  There may be more than one such defeat.
+             </li> 
+        </ol>
+   </li>
+   <li> If there are no defeats within the Schwartz set, then the winner
+        is chosen from the options in the Schwartz set.  If there is
+        only one such option, it is the winner. If there are multiple
+        options, the elector with the casting vote chooses which of those
+        options wins.  
+   </li>
+</ol>
+
+<p>
+ <strong>Note:</strong> Options which the voters rank above the default option
+ are options they find acceptable.  Options ranked below the default
+ options are options they find unacceptable.
+</p>
+
+<p><cite>When the Standard Resolution Procedure is to be used, the text
+which refers to it must specify what is sufficient to have a draft
+resolution proposed and/or sponsored, what the minimum discussion
+period is, and what the voting period is.  It must also specify any
+supermajority and/or the quorum (and default option) to be
+used.</cite></p>
+
+<h2><toc-add-entry name="item-B">B. Use of language and typography</toc-add-entry></h2>
+
+<p>The present indicative (<q>is</q>, for example) means that the statement
+is a rule in this constitution.  <q>May</q> or <q>can</q> indicates that the
+person or body has discretion.  <q>Should</q> means that it would be
+considered a good thing if the sentence were obeyed, but it is not
+binding.  <cite>Text marked as a citation, such as this, is rationale
+and does not form part of the constitution.  It may be used only to aid
+interpretation in cases of doubt.</cite></p>

Modified: packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.wml
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.wml?rev=10636&op=diff
==============================================================================
--- packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.wml	(original)
+++ packages/trunk/doc-debian/doc/constitution.wml	Tue Feb 17 23:41:23 2015
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 
-<h1>Constitution for the Debian Project (v1.4)</h1>
+<h1>Constitution for the Debian Project (v1.5)</h1>
  
 
-<p>Version 1.4 ratified on October 7th, 2007. Supersedes
+<p>Version 1.5 ratified on January 9th, 2015. Supersedes
+<a href="constitution.1.4">Version 1.4</a> ratified on October 7th,
+2007,
 <a href="constitution.1.3">Version 1.3</a> ratified on September 24th,
 2006,
 <a href="constitution.1.2">Version 1.2</a> ratified on October 29th,
@@ -508,9 +510,35 @@
   </li>
 
   <li>
+    <p>A Developer is not eligible to be (re)appointed to the Technical
+      Committee if they have been a member within the previous 12
+      months.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
     <p>If the Technical Committee and the Project Leader agree they
     may remove or replace an existing member of the Technical
     Committee.</p>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>
+    <p>Term limit:</p>
+    <ol>
+      <li>
+	<p>On January 1st of each year the term of any Committee member
+	  who has served more than 42 months (3.5 years) and who is one
+	  of the two most senior members is set to expire on December
+	  31st of that year.</p>
+      </li>
+      <li>
+	<p>A member of the Technical Committee is said to be more
+	  senior than another if they were appointed earlier, or were
+	  appointed at the same time and have been a member of the
+	  Debian Project longer. In the event that a member has been
+	  appointed more than once, only the most recent appointment is
+	  relevant.</p>
+      </li>
+    </ol>
   </li>
 </ol>
 



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