CZ:Charter: Difference between revisions

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==Preamble==
==Preamble==
This Charter has been prepared to provide guidance to members of Citizendium in the workings of the encyclopaedia. The Charter outlines the working arrangements for the encyclopaedia, as well as the 'Statement of Purpose' and the specific 'Aims' of the encyclopaedia. By joining Citizendium as a member, those people agree to be bound by the conditions set out in this Charter. Non-Members and observers who attend the Citizendium forums and publicly indexed mailing lists also agree to be bound by the conditions of this Charter.
We, the citizens, hereby create and join this community and agree to abide by the principles set forth in this charter.
 
This Charter establishes the workings of a community known as ''The Citizens' Compendium'' and establishes ''The Citizens' Compendium'''s "Statement of Purpose."
 
All members of this community, whether participants or observers on ''The Citizendium'', its forum, or its mailing lists agree to be bound by the conditions of this Charter.


==Name==
==Name==
The name of this organization shall be Citizendium (herein also known as CZ).
The name of this organization shall be the ''Citizens' Compendium'', know as the ''Citizendium'' and shortened as CZ.
 
==Statement of Purpose==
The mission of Citizendium is to empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content collaborative under a free license or in the public domain and to disseminate it effectively and globally.


==Statement of purpose==
==The Nature of the Project==
The mission of Citizendium is to empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content collaborative under a free license or in the public domain, and to disseminate it effectively and globally.
# The purpose of ''The Citizendium'' community is to create the most reliable and comprehensive [[CZ:Charter drafting/Definitions/Compendium|compendium of knowledge]] that they can.
# ''The Citizendium'' provides the essential infrastructure and an organizational framework for the support and development of projects and other endeavours which serve this community.
# ''The Citizendium'' is owned and controlled by The Citizendium Foundation, a non-profit organization.  The executive board of the Citizendium Foundation will be chosen by an annual election of citizens.
# The ''Citizendium'' will make and keep useful information from its projects available free of charge and in perpetuity.  The means of distribution of its information shall be decided by the Citizendium Foundation.  Normally this will be by digital distribution using a wiki application.  The Citizendium Foundation in collaboration with the Editorial Council shall determine policy for presentation of content.
# ''The Citizendium'' will not sell advertisements. 
# ''The Citizendium'' will be devoted to simplicity.  Acceptable use policies for Wiki functions, such as, but not limited to categories, namespaces, templates, and bots shall be decided by the Editorial Council.


==The nature of the project==
==Rights of the Citizens==
# The ''ultimate'' goal of the ''Citizendium'' community, a global group of collaborators, is to create the most reliable and <s>largest</s> comprehensive [[CZ:Charter drafting/Definitions/Encyclopedia|encyclopedia]] that they can.
Content added by any citizen will not require prior approval of editors, constables, the Editorial Council, the Foundation, or any other citizen.
# The ''Citizendium'' provides the essential infrastructure and an organizational framework for the support and development of projects and other endeavours which serve this charter.
# <s>If an "approved" or "certified" version of an article is available, that version will be presented to the public by default; in that case, viewing unapproved versions will require further mouseclicks for the public, and such versions will be clearly labelled as unapproved, and users will be instructed not to rely upon them.</s> '''Articles will carry a reliability rating, and the most reliable version will be that presented to the public by default. The rating will come with an appropriate explanation [disclaimer?]'''
# The ''Citizendium'' will be a wiki. Edits will not '''normally''' be required to be approved by editors before appearing on the wiki.
# The ''Citizendium'' will be owned and ultimately controlled by a non-profit organization.
# The ''Citizendium'' will not sell advertisements.  There may be unobtrusive non-profit sponsorship statements, but sponsors will have no editorial influence over the project, and enforceable, adequate oversight of this rule will be in place.  Similarly, no grants that make specific editorial demands will be accepted.
# The ''Citizendium'' will be devoted to simplicity, both in presentation of content and in the organization of the community.  <s>Many features as implemented by Wikipedia, such as subject categories and so-called user boxes, may be eliminated from (or never included in) the '' Citizendium.''</s>  Special roles will not be created without excellent reason, and bureaucracy will be kept to the absolute minimum <s>necessary</s>.
# The ''Citizendium'' will make and keep useful information about its projects available on the Internet free of charge, and in perpetuity.


==Membership==
==Membership==
===General membership===
===General membership===
# The ''Citizendium'' grants membership to anyone who formally applies for it and is approved according to Citizendium policy and procedure. There shall be no membership fee.
# Members of ''The Citizendium'' community are called "citizens."
# No member of ''Citizendium'' shall engage in activities that are counterproductive or otherwise interfere with the advancement of the Citizendium mission as defined in this Charter. Should any member participate in such activities, they may be subject to removal from Citizendium. A member may only be removed upon the submission of a detailed complaint outlining such activities to the Constabulary.
# ''The Citizendium'' will grant membership to anyone who formally applies for it and is approved according to Citizendium policy and procedure. There shall be no membership fee.
# No Citizen shall engage in activities that are counterproductive or otherwise interfere with the advancement of the [[CZ:Charter Drafting#Statement of Purpose|Citizendium mission]] as defined in this Charter. Should any member participate in such activities, their membership may be revoked by due process procedures discussed [[CZ:Charter Drafting#Expulsion Due Process|below]].
# No member shall engage in any activity in connection with Citizendium, or any of its members, which might violate any law in their country, incorporation, or principle place of business.
# No member shall engage in any activity in connection with Citizendium, or any of its members, which might violate any law in their country, incorporation, or principle place of business.
====Expulsion Due Process===
# A member may only be removed upon the submission of a detailed complaint outlining such activities to the Constabulary.
# All members have a right to appeal their expulsion and/or non-inclusion, subject to Citizendium policy and procedure.
# All members have a right to appeal their expulsion and/or non-inclusion, subject to Citizendium policy and procedure.
# Appeals are made to the Editorial Council and their decision will be final in all cases.


===Policy of non-discrimination===
===Policy of non-discrimination===
# The ''Citizendium'', in accordance with applicable laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran of the Armed Forces.
# ''The Citizendium'', in accordance with applicable laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran of the Armed Forces.
# ''The Citizendium'' does reserve the right to discipline citizens for the publication of material deemed offensive to the community upon complaint to the Constabulary.  Appeal of the decisions and actions of the constabulary is made to the Editorial Council and their decision shall be final in all cases.


==Governance==
==Governance==
===Editorial Council===
===Editorial Council===
# Sole management and control of Citizendium shall be vested in the Editorial Council elected by the general membership. Composition, election, terms, meetings and committees for the Council shall be further set forth in the Bylaws.
# Sole management and control of Citizendium shall be vested in the Editorial Council elected by the citizens. Composition, election, terms, meetings and committees for the Council shall be further set forth in the [[CZ:Editorial Council/Bylaws|Bylaws]].
 
====Bylaws====
# [[CZ:Editorial Council|The Editorial Council]] shall have [[CZ:Editorial Council/Bylaws|a set of bylaws]] that provide the framework for governing the operations of the organization.  In no case, shall any bylaw or policy of the Editorial Council contravene this charter.  In such cases where Editorial Council bylaws or policies contravene this charter, this charter shall take precedence.
 
====No Confidence====
If, at any time, a petition of confidence is opened at [[CZ:Editorial Council/Confidence Vote]] and, if after one month of voting by the Citizens, and if the vote is to dissolve the editorial council, new elections shall be held immediately and a new Editorial Council shall be seated within one month.


===Editor-In-Chief===
===Editor-In-Chief===
<!-- To be expanded -->
There shall be no Editor in Chief.  The Editorial Council shall make all decisions regarding policy and content of the community.


===Constabulary===
===Constabulary===
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<!-- To be expanded -->
<!-- To be expanded -->


===Bylaws===
# The Editorial Council shall have a set of bylaws that provide the framework for governing the operations of the organization, so long as the Bylaws are consistent with the Charter.


==Funding==
==Funding==
# Each ''Citizendium'' member shall be responsible for their own expenses incurred in Citizendium activities.
# Each ''Citizendium'' member shall be responsible for their own expenses incurred in Citizendium activities.
# The Citizendium Foundation shall be responsible for all expenses regarding the operation of ''The Citizendium.''


==Provision to make financial records available==
==Provision to make financial records available==
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==Amendments to the Charter==
==Amendments to the Charter==
# This charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the citizenry called for and publicized by the Editorial Council, for the purpose of voting to amend the charter.
# This charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of voting citizens when called for and publicized by the Editorial Council, for the purpose of voting to amend the charter.
# Amendments shall clearly state what changes to this charter should be made and will become as binding as any original article of this charter.


==Enactment==
==Enactment==
<!-- Declaration and date to be completed at time of final vote -->
<!-- Declaration and date to be completed at time of final vote -->
Upon enactment of this charter, the charter page shall be locked and no further changes to the charter shall be permitted except by [[CZ:Charter Drafting#Amendments to the Charter|amendment]].

Revision as of 08:25, 16 October 2009

This page is dedicated to drafting a charter for Citizendium and should only be edited by those eight Citizens elected to the drafting Committee. The talk page is also reserved for them to discuss the evolution of the document. Other Citizens, please comment on the dedicated thread at the Citizen Forum. Non-Citizens can comment in a separate thread at the non-Member Forum. The drafting period shall end when November 12, 2009 is over all around the globe.

Preamble

We, the citizens, hereby create and join this community and agree to abide by the principles set forth in this charter.

This Charter establishes the workings of a community known as The Citizens' Compendium and establishes The Citizens' Compendium's "Statement of Purpose."

All members of this community, whether participants or observers on The Citizendium, its forum, or its mailing lists agree to be bound by the conditions of this Charter.

Name

The name of this organization shall be the Citizens' Compendium, know as the Citizendium and shortened as CZ.

Statement of Purpose

The mission of Citizendium is to empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content collaborative under a free license or in the public domain and to disseminate it effectively and globally.

The Nature of the Project

  1. The purpose of The Citizendium community is to create the most reliable and comprehensive compendium of knowledge that they can.
  2. The Citizendium provides the essential infrastructure and an organizational framework for the support and development of projects and other endeavours which serve this community.
  3. The Citizendium is owned and controlled by The Citizendium Foundation, a non-profit organization. The executive board of the Citizendium Foundation will be chosen by an annual election of citizens.
  4. The Citizendium will make and keep useful information from its projects available free of charge and in perpetuity. The means of distribution of its information shall be decided by the Citizendium Foundation. Normally this will be by digital distribution using a wiki application. The Citizendium Foundation in collaboration with the Editorial Council shall determine policy for presentation of content.
  5. The Citizendium will not sell advertisements.
  6. The Citizendium will be devoted to simplicity. Acceptable use policies for Wiki functions, such as, but not limited to categories, namespaces, templates, and bots shall be decided by the Editorial Council.

Rights of the Citizens

Content added by any citizen will not require prior approval of editors, constables, the Editorial Council, the Foundation, or any other citizen.

Membership

General membership

  1. Members of The Citizendium community are called "citizens."
  2. The Citizendium will grant membership to anyone who formally applies for it and is approved according to Citizendium policy and procedure. There shall be no membership fee.
  3. No Citizen shall engage in activities that are counterproductive or otherwise interfere with the advancement of the Citizendium mission as defined in this Charter. Should any member participate in such activities, their membership may be revoked by due process procedures discussed below.
  4. No member shall engage in any activity in connection with Citizendium, or any of its members, which might violate any law in their country, incorporation, or principle place of business.

=Expulsion Due Process

  1. A member may only be removed upon the submission of a detailed complaint outlining such activities to the Constabulary.
  2. All members have a right to appeal their expulsion and/or non-inclusion, subject to Citizendium policy and procedure.
  3. Appeals are made to the Editorial Council and their decision will be final in all cases.

Policy of non-discrimination

  1. The Citizendium, in accordance with applicable laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran of the Armed Forces.
  2. The Citizendium does reserve the right to discipline citizens for the publication of material deemed offensive to the community upon complaint to the Constabulary. Appeal of the decisions and actions of the constabulary is made to the Editorial Council and their decision shall be final in all cases.

Governance

Editorial Council

  1. Sole management and control of Citizendium shall be vested in the Editorial Council elected by the citizens. Composition, election, terms, meetings and committees for the Council shall be further set forth in the Bylaws.

Bylaws

  1. The Editorial Council shall have a set of bylaws that provide the framework for governing the operations of the organization. In no case, shall any bylaw or policy of the Editorial Council contravene this charter. In such cases where Editorial Council bylaws or policies contravene this charter, this charter shall take precedence.

No Confidence

If, at any time, a petition of confidence is opened at CZ:Editorial Council/Confidence Vote and, if after one month of voting by the Citizens, and if the vote is to dissolve the editorial council, new elections shall be held immediately and a new Editorial Council shall be seated within one month.

Editor-In-Chief

There shall be no Editor in Chief. The Editorial Council shall make all decisions regarding policy and content of the community.

Constabulary

Editors

Specialist Editors

Authors

Funding

  1. Each Citizendium member shall be responsible for their own expenses incurred in Citizendium activities.
  2. The Citizendium Foundation shall be responsible for all expenses regarding the operation of The Citizendium.

Provision to make financial records available

  1. Citizendium's financial records shall be made available upon formal request by citizens. Said requests can be submitted electronically via email and must provide a detailed description of the type of records requested.

Amendments to the Charter

  1. This charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of voting citizens when called for and publicized by the Editorial Council, for the purpose of voting to amend the charter.
  2. Amendments shall clearly state what changes to this charter should be made and will become as binding as any original article of this charter.

Enactment

Upon enactment of this charter, the charter page shall be locked and no further changes to the charter shall be permitted except by amendment.

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