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Standing Rule A - Consensus Process
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| A-1 |
All bodies of the GPSD shall seek consensus in
all decision-making. Any proposal presented to a body of the GPSD which
has not chosen another process as provided for in the Bylaws, must be
passed through the following formal process of consensus: |
| A-2 |
Determine Agenda and Assign Time
Any item presented to the meeting will be given adequate time, within
the judgment of the facilitator(s) and the limits of the agenda, for
discussion and consideration. The time allotted will be communicated to
the members and a time-keeper will be appointed. The time-keeper will
notify the facilitator(s) when three (3) minutes remain in the time
allotted. At this point, the presenter must decide on a closing option.
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| A-3 |
Formal Consensus Process Flow Chart (details
follow)
- Step 1: Present Proposal (A-4)
- Clarify Questions
- Step 2: Test for Consensus (A-5)
- (if consensus, then end)
- Test for Stand Asides
- (if no remaining concerns, then end)
- Step 3: List Concerns (A-6)
- Seek to Resolve List of Concerns
- Step 4: <same as Step 2>
- Step 5: Seek to Resolve Individual Concerns (A-7)
- Step 6: <same as Step 2>
- Step 7: Choose Closing Option (A-8)
- (if referred, then end)
- (if more time granted, then go to Step 5)
- (if vote requested, then go to Step 8)
- Step 8: Vote Fall-Back (A-9)
- (end)
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| A-4 |
Present Proposal and Clarify Questions.
The 'presenter' is given the floor to present the proposal and answer
any clarifying questions. |
| A-5 |
Test for Consensus and Stand Asides.
The 'facilitator' tests for consensus by asking "Are there any concerns
about this proposal?" If no concerns are expressed, then the proposal
has been approved. If any concerns are expressed, then the
'facilitator' shall ask those expressing concerns if they are willing
to 'stand aside', or allow the group to adopt the proposal without
their approval. If they request, these stand-aside concerns must be
recorded and included with the minutes of meeting. If after testing for
stand asides, no unresolved concerns remain, then the proposal has been
approved. |
| A-6 |
List Concerns and Seek to Resolve List.
The 'facilitator' asks each person expressing concerns to describe
their concerns, succinctly if possible. Concerns are listed where all
can see them by a 'scribe' appointed by the facilitator. The
facilitator will strive to clarify individual concerns or combine
equivalent concerns. General discussion of the merits or possible
resolutions is not permitted until all concerns are listed. When all
concerns have been listed, the facilitator will assist the presenter
and the group in resolving these concerns by modifying the proposal or
otherwise addressing the concerns. Modifications must meet with the
approval of the presenter. |
| A-7 |
Seek to Resolve Individual Concerns.
This Step is essentially equivalent to Standing Rule A-6 except that
the remaining concerns are addressed one at a time (instead of a list).
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| A-8 |
Choose Closing Option.
The 'presenter' must choose one of the following closing options;
- Request additional time to reach resolution.
The facilitator will attempt to reallocate the time allotted by taking
time away from another item later in the agenda, with the approval of
the membership. This request is considered a 'business item' for voting
purposes. If additional time is not granted, the presenter must chose
one of the remaining closing options.
- Refer the proposal to Standing or Ad Hoc
Committee, Working Group, or County Council.
- Request that a vote be taken on the proposal
as described in Standing Rule A-9.
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| A-9 |
Vote Fall-Back
When the closing option of voting is selected by the presenter (or when
required by the Bylaws), the vote will proceed as follows:
- The note-taker will read the proposal as it
stands.
- The facilitator will call the role and record
each vote. The scribe will record the vote where all can see it by
"yes", "no", and "abstain" next to the name of each present member
authorized to vote. The roll-call vote will be recorded in the minutes.
- Alternately, for General Membership votes or
for
'business item' votes if there are no objections from the membership,
the facilitator may elect to call a non-roll-call vote with a simple
show of hands. The total votes, "yes", "no", and "abstain" will be
recorded in the minutes.
- As described in the Bylaws, a 'business item'
requires a "low threshold" vote for approval while a 'policy item'
requires a "high threshold" vote for approval. The 'chair' (or the
facilitator if the chair is not present) will determine which category
an individual item falls under. If uncertain, the "high threshold"
requirement must be used.
- If a present member authorized to vote does
not vote, the vote shall be recorded as an abstention.
- No 'absentee' or 'proxy' votes are allowed.
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Standing Rule B - Robert's Rules
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| B-1 |
An alternative decision-making process that may
be used (as indicated in Paragraph 5-3.3) is a modified version of the
standard parliamentary procedure described in the latest official
edition of Robert's Rules (Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 9th
Edition). |
| B-2 |
Voting thresholds are determined using the rules
described in the Fall-Back Voting Option of the Consensus Process. The
chief difference between this modified process and the Consensus
process described in Rule A, is the expanded ability for the group to
make amendments to a proposal and the requirement that a vote be taken
on most proposals. |
Standing Rule C - Committees and Working Groups
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| C-1 |
Working Groups and Committees, herein referred
to as Groups, are voluntary associations of GPSD members and interested
persons carrying out that aspect of the work of the GPSD to which they
are dedicated or interested. |
| C-2 |
Groups may be established by either the County
Council or by the General Membership with at least a "low threshold"
vote. The purpose, duties, responsibilities, delegated powers (if any),
and in the case of Committees, the proposed membership, should be
clearly stated at the time of its formation. The establishing body
should name a chair . or initial facilitator for the Group |
| C-3 |
The membership of a Committee is appointed by
the body which creates it. |
| C-4 |
The membership of a Working Group is open to any
interested person willing to participate. |
| C-5 |
An Ad Hoc Group may be established to carry out
a specific task, at the completion of which it automatically ceases to
exist. |
| C-6 |
The County Council has discretion to dissolve
inactive Groups, or to merely suspend them, if the work is periodic.
Active Groups may be dissolved by the General Membership, or a Group
may dissolve itself. |
| C-7 |
Groups may establish and dissolve 'sub-groups'
to which they may assign or delegate specific tasks. |
| C-8 |
Groups must provide a list of active members,
meeting dates and time, and any necessary updates to the County
Council.
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