Re: Parliamentary Questions...

[Buddha Buck <bmbuck@14850.com>]

<snip>
> 
> On Wed, Jun 14, 2000 at 12:24:17AM -0400, Buddha Buck wrote:
> > 1.  John Goetzen recently made a proposed General Resolution, to which 
> > Anthony Townes suggested an amendment.  Both the original proposal and 
> > the amendment have had various developers post seconds to them.  The 
> > web site http://www.debian.org/vote does not list the proposal or 
> > amendment yet.  What is the current parliamentary status of the 
> > proposal by John Goetzen and the amendment by Anthony Townes?
> See above.

Fair enough...  Congratulations on your new child.  And what lousy 
timing for a massive flamewar/Debian vote, eh?

 > > 2.  The proposal by John Goetzen calls for a modification of the 
Debian
> > Social Contract.  Some have suggested that such a modification is 
> > allowed by Clause 4.1.5 of the Debian Constitution ("Issue nontechnical 
> > policy documents and statements"), while others claim that that 
> > particular clause does not apply to amending the Social Contract -- and 
> > that there is no Constitutionally valid method of amending the Social 
> > Contract.  It has also been suggested that amending the DSC is 
> > equivilant to amending the Debian Constitution, and thus falls under 
> > 4.1.2, and requires a 3:1 supermajority.  As far as I have seen, most 
> > are agreed that the Project Secretary's opinion should decide.
> >
> > What Constitutional authority, if any, is there for amending the Social 
> > Contract?  What level of majority or supermajority is needed to enact an
> > amendment to the Debian Social Contract?
> > 
> Oh boy, this will be fun.  I will have to look at the issues closely and
> will not venture an official answer at this time.

Thanks.  On the whole, I think I would prefer a careful, considered 
interpretation rather than a snap judgement anyway.

> >
> > 3.  If the original proposal requires a supermajority and the amendment 
> > (which does not amend the DSC) requires only a majority, how will the 
> > vote counting and determination of the results of the ballots be done?
> Per section A of the constitution :)  The answer to this will, obviously,
> have to wait for a determination of point 2.
> > 
> > I hope to receive a reply to these questions soon.  
> Please wait a bit longer, I will be back into circulation Monday.

Waiting is...

> > 
> > Thank you,
> >   Buddha Buck
-- 
     Buddha Buck                             bmbuck@14850.com
"Just as the strength of the Internet is chaos, so the strength of our
liberty depends upon the chaos and cacophony of the unfettered speech
the First Amendment protects."  -- A.L.A. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice