You are reading Volume IV
Taking part in democracy
Student handout 5.4: Procedural rules for the conference – draft version
Adoption of procedural rules
- The community adopts a draft set of procedural rules by a majority of 50% or more of all votes cast.
- If no alterations are suggested to this draft, it may be adopted by one block vote. Alterations need to be voted on separately.
Chairperson
- By majority vote, a community member is appointed as chairperson. The chairperson may participate in the vote on the draft frameworks, but may not perform as spokesperson (rule no. 5).
Final promotion statements
- The community members show their preference for a draft model by a show of hands. They form parties that may lobby for their model.
- A spokesperson makes a promotional statement for his/her party lasting no more than two minutes.
- During the voting procedure, no further debating is allowed.
Voting procedure
- Voting: the community members adopt a draft by vote. All votes count equally. The members vote by a show of hands.
- Two-stage decision: the vote on the drafts takes place in two rounds.
8.1 First round: the community members vote for one of the drafts.
8.2 Second round: the two drafts with the highest amount of votes are voted on a second time. The community adopts the draft that receives the higher number of votes.
8.3 If both drafts receive an equal number of votes, a discussion is held before the vote is repeated.
Documentation and authorisation
- The writer of the draft enters the date and place of the conference at the end of the rules document.
- All community members sign the document.