proj-branchDemocracy-manual

Scaling

In this discussion we assume that the parameter P remains at its default value, 5.

Based on Effective Group Size, not actual number of members

Note that all scaling is based on the effective group size, not on the actual number of members of the group. When each person has an equal voting weight, effective group size equals the actual number of members, but otherwise effective group size may be less.

For example, when the effective group size grows beyond 25, the group changes from Size Regime Small to Size Regime Medium (or even to Large, if the group size grows a lot instantaneously). But, if voting weight is uneven, then there may be more than 25 members and yet the Size Regime may remain Small. For example, if there are 17 members (todo: example with more than 25 members), and the voting weights are: 20%, 14%, 10%, 7%, 5%, 5%, 5%, 5%, 4%, 4%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%, then the effective group size is only 8 (because a majority could be formed by the highest-weighted 4 members acting in concert, and 4 times 2 is 8).

Characteristics of each Size Regime

Small

The Forum is the only legislative body; there are no elected or delegated representatives.

There are no term limits, and any one member may hold any number of offices.

There is only one Chair.

Often, in groups of this size, the member who is Chair will also fill the roles of CEO and EEO, although the Bylaws do not require this. That is to say, the same person may manage the group's activity (both interal and outward-facing) and be in charge of the procedural machinery.

When the Effective Group Size reaches 9, the Size Regime changes to Medium.

Medium

This is similar to a Small group, except that the Elect Board (and the External Elect Board) is created. The Chair may not also be a Boardmember.

Initially, the Elect Board has 3 members, and the External Elect Board consists of 1 of the members of the Elect Board.

When the Effective Group Size reaches 64, the size of the Elect Board grows from 3 to 5, and the External Elect Board consists of 3 of the members of the Elect Board.

The Elect Board may choose to (but does not have to) appoint up to 3 Judges and up to 3 Parliamentarians. By default, the Chair fills these roles, also.

When the Effective Group Size reaches 125, the Size Regime changes to Large.

Large

At this point, a number of changes occur.

The number of Chairs increases from 1 to 3. The Chairs may not be CEO or EEO.

The Delegate Board is created, with up to 5 Boardmembers.

In total, this is an increase of up to 7 additional elected representatives. Assuming that no Judges or Parliamentarians are appointed, and that the Councils are created.

Term Limits come into effect.

As the Effective Group Size continues to increase beyond 125, changes continue to occur in the Delegate Board; as the group gets larger, intermediate layers are created. When (if) the Effective Group Size reaches 625, the first intermediate layer of the Delegate Board is created. If it reaches 78125, the second intermediate layer is created. The Bylaws also provide formulas for calculating how many supporters are needed to elect a Delegate at each level; this changes as the Effective Group Size grows.


Appendix

You may have noticed that in addition to Small, Medium, Large, there are other points at which the structure of the group changes. Here is a table of these points:

When effective group size reaches......this happens
25transition to Medium (with 3 Directors, including 1 External Affairs Director), 1 Chair
125transition to Large, 5 Directors, including 3 External Affairs Directors, up to 5 Delegates, 3 Chairs
6251 intermediate delegate layer
781252 intermediate delegate layers

(the rules provide for more intermediate layers at even larger group sizes but they are so large that it is not worth discussing them here.)

And here is a table of what structures exist, and how many officers:

Effective group size Forum?# of Chairs # of Elected Directors # of External Affairs Directors # of Delegate Directors CEO separate from Chair?Councils?# of Judges # of Parliamentarians term limits?
2-8yes, simple rules 1000no no 00no
9-24yes, simple rules 1310optionally no 0-50-5no
25-48yes, simple rules 1510optionally no 0-50-5no
49-55yes, simple rules 1730optionally no 0-50-5no
56-8103yes, standard rules 1737yes yes 0-50-5yes
8104-8886111yes, standard rules 1737, plus one layer of intermediate delegates yes yes 0-50-5yes
8886111-...yes, standard rules 1737, plus two layers of intermediate delegates yes yes 0-50-5yes

(note that External Affairs Directors are always also general Elected Directors, and are included in the count of Elected Directors)