User:ElectionJune2015/Referenda/5

Only the proposer of the referendum and Election Committee members may modify this page. Substantive modifications by the proposer after the referendum has been formally proposed at 'June 2015 Referenda' will invalidate the signatures of any current supporters, and require them to sign again. Comments should be placed on the Talk page.

This page contains a proposed referendum question, the existing rule(s) which the proposer and any supporters of the referendum wish to change, elaboration on the proposal, and the proposed new text.

Temporary appointments to the Council, June 2015

Proposed by John Stephenson

A proposed referendum on existing rules follows. If it is voted on, Citizens could support or oppose the question by indicating 'Yes' or 'No'. Under Article 37, two-thirds majority is required for this referendum to pass because it proposes to modify the Charter.

To support the establishment of a referendum on this issue, sign here.

Introduction

The Charter currently mandates that any Citizendium Council seat that becomes vacant or whose holder becomes "inactive" for more than 90 days shall be filled in a by-election. This policy increases the likelihood of frequent elections, which take up significant time and may not resolve matters. A simpler option is to allow the Council to make appointments for an interim period.

Current text

See sections 3 and 4 of Article 25 of the Citizendium Charter.

Proposed referendum

The Charter shall be amended to allow the Council the option of appointing a Citizen to the Council if a seat is vacant or the holder is no longer active, until the next regularly-scheduled election. Elections outside the normal cycle shall still be permitted, however. It also requires that any appointments be by Council vote (i.e. the Managing Editor may not simply appoint anyone as an interim decision).

Proposed new text

• Rewrite section 3, part 2 of Article 25, as "A Council member who resigns or becomes inactive or unavailable for a period of 90 days or more shall be replaced either by election or by a vote of the Council only."
• Remove "by election" from section 3, part 3 of Article 25, and add "or vote to fill the seat with an appointed member who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election."
• Add part 5 to section 3: "Interim appointees to the Council must be approved by vote of the Council and may serve only until the next regularly-scheduled election."
• Add to section 4, part 3 of Article 25: ", or alternatively to vote to fill the seat(s) with (an) appointed member(s) who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election."
• Replace section 4, part 4 of Article 25 with: "If, through resignation or 90 days' inactivity, the office of Managing Editor becomes vacant, the Citizendium Council shall either appoint an elections committee to fill the office via an election, or vote to appoint an Editor who shall who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election."

Full text

Section Three: Elections

1. The candidates collecting the most votes shall be elected.
2. A Council member who resigns or becomes inactive or unavailable for a period of 90 days or more shall be replaced either by election or by a vote of the Council only.
3. A vacant council member seat shall be filled within 90 days of the vacancy. If a normal election does not fall within this period, the Citizendium Council shall call a special election or vote to fill the seat with an appointed member who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election.
4. A special election is organized exactly as a regularly scheduled election, except the number of positions to be filled equals the number of Council vacancies.
5. Interim appointees to the Council must be approved by vote of the Council and may serve only until the next regularly-scheduled election.

Section Four: Council Size

1. The Council may propose a change of its size by an even number of members; this proposal shall be subject to a referendum held together with the next election. If passed, the new seats shall be filled by special election.
2. A Council member may request a temporary leave of absence. Such leaves shall not exceed 120 days in a year. The temporary vacancy shall be filled with a citizen in good standing chosen by the Council. The term of this appointment shall equal the term of the temporary leave.
3. If, through resignations or simultaneous expiration of 90 day inactivity, Citizendium Council membership falls below a quorum, the Managing Editor shall fill one seat on a temporary basis as a voting member. The Citizendium Council shall be devoted to the task of establishing an elections committee for the purpose of holding an election, or alternatively to vote to fill the seat(s) with (an) appointed member(s) who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election.
4. If, through resignation or 90 days' inactivity, the office of Managing Editor becomes vacant, the Citizendium Council shall either appoint an elections committee to fill the office via an election, or vote to appoint an Editor who shall serve until the next regularly-scheduled election.

Notes

• If the size of the Council is increased by referendum, the new seats must be filled by election and not appointment. This is to prevent the existing Council making several appointments for terms of almost a year.
• The new wording preserves the current arrangement, since the Council can opt to call an election instead of making an interim appointment.