ideas-groupDecisionMaking-plan11-bylaws-exceptional

Exceptional conditions

Exceptional situations may occur in which fast, decisive action is necessary. Therefore, there is a mechanism for temporarily weakening the usual deliberative requirements.

Exceptional conditions fall into two classes: Minor Exceptional Conditions, and the Major Exceptional Condition.

The Normal condition

The organization is said to be in "normal condition" when no state of exception pertains.

Normal condition can be restored (that is, all exceptional conditions can be cancelled) by any of the following methods:

• A unilateral declaration by the CEO
• The expiration of the time limit attached to an exceptional condition
• An act by a simple majority of any single house of the legislature
• An act by a simple majority of the Tribunes
• An act by a simple majority of the group of people who (a) were delegate commissioners at the time of the declaration of the exceptional condition, and (b) are still reachable
• An act by a simple majority of the group of people who (a) were elect commissioners at the time of the declaration of the exceptional condition, and (b) are still reachable

Minor Exceptional Conditions

Minor Exceptional Conditions may be unilaterally declared by the CEO at any time.

The effects of a Minor Exceptional Condition are defined by statue. Multiple types of Minor Exceptional Conditions may be defined. Minor Exceptional Conditions cannot alter or bypass the legislative process.

A Minor Exceptional Condition automatically expires in two weeks unless renewed by an act of the legislature. If the full legislature is unable to be reached, a partial legislature may function as the legislature for the duration of the Minor Exceptional Condition. A Minor Exceptional Conditions may not last longer than two months.

The Major Exceptional Condition

The Major Exceptional condition may be jointly declared by the CEO and a simple majority of Tribunes. If a majority of the Tribunes are unavailable, the CEO may unilaterally declare a Major Exceptional condition, but only until a majority of the Tribunes become available.

During a Major Exceptional Condition, the CEO has temporary power to amend and create statues. The Major Exceptional Condition does not alter or bypass the process for amending or making an exception to the bylaws.

Time limits

No more than six months out of every period of one year may be spent outside of the normal condition.

"Length of time Outside Normalacy" shall initially be defined to be the length of time spent in exceptional conditions after the previous period of Normal Condition.

Define a "Fallow Period" after each return to Normal Condition. The Fallow Period lasts as long as the Length of time Outside Normalacy at the time of the return to Normal Condition. If some Exceptional Condition is declared again before the Fallow Period, then the intervening time between the last return to Normal Condition and the new Exceptional Condition is added to the Length of time Outside Normalacy.

Limitations on amendments to the bylaws

No bylaws concerning exceptional conditions may be removed, added, or modified except when the Length of time Outside Normalacy exceeds six months.

If the Bylaws are amended during any Exceptional Condition, these amendments shall expire with the restoration of Normal Condition, and shall not be re-enacted until the Length of time Outside Normalacy exceeds six months. If the amendments had an effect on the distribution of power (for instance, if they affected who is a Commissioner, who is CEO, who is a Tribune, etc), this effect is reversed upon such expiration.