Re: GR: Constitutional Amendment to fix an off-by-one error and duplicate section numbering
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On 26/08/15 21:12, Andreas Barth wrote:
>
> ----- GENERAL RESOLUTION STARTS -----
>
>
> Constitutional Amendment: TC Supermajority Fix
>
> Prior to the Clone Proof SSD GR in June 2003, the Technical
> Committee could overrule a Developer with a supermajority of 3:1.
>
> Unfortunately, the definition of supermajorities in the SSD GR has
> a fencepost error. In the new text a supermajority requirement is
> met only if the ratio of votes in favour to votes against is
> strictly greater than the supermajority ratio.
>
> In the context of the Technical Committee voting to overrule a
> developer that means that it takes 4 votes to overcome a single
> dissenter. And with a maximum committee size of 8, previously two
> dissenters could be outvoted by all 6 remaining members; now that
> is no longer possible.
>
> This change was unintentional, was contrary to the original intent
> of the Constitution, and is unhelpful.
>
> Additionally, following discussion of the supermajority mechanism
> within the project, it was realised that certain situations could
> cause anomalous results:
>
> * The existing rules might result in a GR or TC resolution passing
> which was actually the diametric opposite of the majority view.
>
> * The existing rules unintentionally privilege the default option
> in evenly contested TC votes where no supermajority is required,
> possibly encouraging tactical voting.
>
> Therefore, amend the Debian Constitution as follows:
>
> (i) Delete most of A.6(3) (which implemented the supermajority by
> dropping options at an early stage). Specifically: - Move
> A.6(3)(1) (the definition of V(A,B)) to a new subparagraph
> A.6(3)(0) before A.6(3)(1). - Remove the rest of A.6(3) entirely,
> leaving A.6(2) to be followed by A.6(4).
>
> (ii) In A.6(8) replace all occurrences of "winner" with
> "prospective winner". Replace "wins" in "which of those options
> wins" with "is the prospective winner".
>
> (iii) In A.6(8) add a new sentence at the end: + If there is no
> elector with a casting vote, the default option + wins.
>
> (iv) Add a new section A.6(9) after A.6(8): + 9. 1. If the
> prospective winner W has no majority requirement, + or
> defeats the default option D by its majority + requirement,
> the prospective winner is the actual winner. + 2. Otherwise, the
> motion has failed its supermajority with + the consequences
> set out alongside the majority + requirement (or, if
> unspecified, the default option + wins). + 3. An option A
> defeats the default option D by a + majority of N:M if M *
> V(A,D) is greater than or equal to + N * V(D,A).
>
> (v) In * 6.1(4) (Technical Commitee power to overrule a Developer)
> * 4.1(4) (Developers' use of TC powers by GR) (if another
> constitutional amendment has not abolished that supermajority
> requirement) in each case after the "N:M majority" add + ;
> failing that, the prospective winning resolution text becomes + a
> non-binding statement of opinion.
>
> (vi) In A.3(2) delete as follows: 2. The default option must not
> have any supermajority requirements. - Options which do not
> have an explicit supermajority requirement - have a 1:1
> majority requirement.
>
> For the avoidance of any doubt, this change does not affect any
> votes (whether General Resolutions or votes in the Technical
> Committee) in progress at the time the change is made.
>
> The effect is to fix the fencepost bug, and arrange that failing a
> supermajority voids the whole decision (or makes it advisory),
> rather than promoting another option. The fencepost bugfix will
> also have a (negligible) effect on any General Resolutions
> requiring supermajorities. And after this change the TC chair can
> choose a non-default option even if it is tied with a default
> option.
>
>
>
>
>
> Constitutional Amendment: Fix duplicate section numbering.
>
> The current Debian Constitution has two sections numbered A.1. This
> does not currently give rise to any ambiguity but it is
> undesirable.
>
> Fix this with the following semantically neutral amendment:
>
> - Renumber the first section A.1 to A.0.
>
>
> ----- GENERAL RESOLUTION ENDS -----
I second both parts of this GR.
Colin
- --
Colin Tuckley | +44(0)1223 830814 | PGP/GnuPG Key Id
Debian Developer | +44(0)7799 143369 | 0x38C9D903
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