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{{draft}}
{{Admon/note|Introduction|This a result of
* the current [[FAmSCo election rules]] and an [[User:Cwickert/FAmSCo_election_rules_analysis|analysis of the former]]
* a mix of the [[FESCo election policy]] and the [[Board/SuccessionPlanning | Board's succession planning]]
* feedback form a session at [[FUDCon:Blacksburg_2012 | FUDCon Blacksburg ]]
}}


== Introduction ==
= FAmSCo Election Policy =


[[FAmSCo]] currently suffers form a few organizational problems and some of them are caused be the way how FAmSCo is constituted. We need to change the [[FAmSCo election rules]] to address them.
FAmSCo elections help to keep the leadership of the project in touch with the ambassadors who make up the project.


== Problems overview ==
== Schedule ==
# FAmSCo does not have enough (active) members
# Lack of consistency:
# When a new FAmSCo is elected, it needs time to catch up with business and become fully operational
# Missing announcements:


== Proposed changes ==
FAmSCo elections will be held twice a year, as part of the Fedora Project combined election process.


=== Not enough members ===
{{Anchor|NumberOfSeats}}


'''Problem:''' FAmSCo does not have enough (active) members
== Seats on FAmSCo ==


'''Cause:''' Current election rules state:
There will be 7 seats on FAmSCo. 7 seats were up for the F16 and earlier elections, and the following election will have 3 seats up for vote.  The 3 seats that will be up for election will be the bottom 3 vote-getters from the prior election.  The 4 seats not up for election in the F17 election, will be up for election in F18.  After that, the seats up for election will alternate based on the seats up for election in the prior election.


''"There are 7 seats on FAmSCo, of which 5 must be filled at all times."''
{{Anchor|Candidates}}
== Candidates ==


"Below 5" means 4. For 7 seats, this is just the number to constitute a quorum. If one of the 4 remaining members then misses a meeting, FAmSCo is no longer quorate. The fact that
Candidates may be any member of the ambassadors group in the Fedora Accounts System. This helps ensure FAmSCo members have some experience with the processes of Fedora but still allows relatively new contributors to sit on FAmSCo and bring fresh ideas to the table.


'''Proposed solution:''' Don't wait until the number of active committee members drops quorate
Candidates must self nominate at least three days before the election opens by writing their information onto the wiki (Fedora account, email and irc nick, statement of past contributions and what they hope to accomplish while a member of FAmSCo.) In addition, candidates must not be a citizen of an export-restricted country (see [[Legal/Export#Embargoed_Destinations|Legal/Export#Embargoed_Destinations]] for the list of export restricted countries).


=== Inactive members don't step down ===
In order to hold an election, a minimum number of candidates are necessary. This will be the number of open seats + 25%.  If there are 4 seats available, there will need to be at least 5 candidates.  If not enough candidates have signed up by the deadline, the election may be delayed waiting for more candidates to appear, in coordination with the schedule for combined Fedora elections. If there are still not enough candidates, the candidates who are present will be voted upon (or merely confirmed if there are less candidates than open seats.)  If FAmSCo does not have the full number of seats filled at this point, please see [[#FillingVacancies|Filling Vacant Seats]] below.


'''Problem:''' Inactive members don't step down.
{{Anchor|Voters}}


'''Cause:''' Current election rules state:
== Voters ==


''"A supplementary election must be called immediately if number of active committee members drops below 5 in order to fill the committee's size back up to 7."''
Any person in the Fedora Account System who has completed the Contributor License Agreement and is member of at least one other group - including, but not limited to the group of ambassadors - is eligible to vote in the FAmSCo elections.


=== Lack of consistency ===
== Members ==


'''Problem:''' Lack of consistency
Members of FAmSCo are elected for a term of two (2) major releases of Fedora. However, a FAmSCo member may resign his/her seat at any time for any reason by notifying the rest of the committee as well as the Fedora Ambassadors community of their decision.


'''Cause:''' Current election rules state:
In the event of repeated absence without contact, or other serious misconduct or negligence, a FAmSCo member may be subject to removal. Before any other process occurs, the FAmSCo member in question will be personally contacted by the FAmSCo Chair to try to resolve the situation. If this contact does not successfully resolve the situation, the FAmSCo member in question may be removed by unanimous vote of the other members of FAmSCo. Any resulting open seat will be filled as described in [[#FillingVacancies|Filling Vacant Seats]] below. The term of the interim member will be the remainder of the original term for that seat.


''"FAmSCo members are elected for a term of two (2) major releases of Fedora, unless an election is called early by the Chairperson of the committee, an absolute majority vote of FAmSCo, or by the Fedora Project Board."''
{{Anchor|Chair}}
== Election of the Chairperson ==


'''Proposed change:'''
Once an election is completed, the committee must elect a Chairperson.  This must be done by not later than weeks or two meetings that are held after the election. Until a new Chairperson is elected, the current chair will continue in that role.  The FAmSCo Chairperson can only be removed from this position by an unanimous vote of the other FAmSCo members.  If this happens, a new Chairperson must be elected within one week.


=== New FAmSCo not operational ===
{{Anchor|ViceChair}}


'''Problem:''' When people get elected, they need time to find their way into FAmSCo.
== Appointment of Vice-Chairperson ==
No later than two weeks after election, the FAmSCo chairperson will appoint the Vice-Chairperson. The FAmSCo Vice-Chairperson can only be removed from this position by an unanimous vote of the other FAmSCo members.  If this happens, a new Vice-Chairperson must be appointed within one week.''


=== Not enough candidates ===
{{Anchor|FillingVacancies}}


'''Problem:''' FAmSCo elections require a large number of candidates and if this number cannot be reached, the elections are delayed.
== Filling Vacant Seats ==


'''Cause:''' Current election rules state:
If FAmSCo does not have all its seats filled due to members leaving or other lack, the vacant seats will attempt to be filled by the following methods:


''"In order to hold an election, a minimum number of candidates are necessary. This will be the number of open seats + 25%. If there are 7 seats available, there will need to be at least 9 candidates."''
# If there are runner-up candidates from the previous election that did not have the opportunity to be on FAmSCo, they will be considered and offered a seat.
# If those candidates have been exhausted or FAmSCo does not consider them eligible, FAmSCo will ask Fedora community members that they think would do a good job if they would be willing to hold the open seats.
# If the open seats are still not filled, FAmSCo will operate with less members until the next FAmSCo election.


{{Anchor|VotingSystem}}
== Voting System ==


=== Missing announcements ===
The [http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora_Contributor_Documentation/1/html/Fedora_Elections_Guide/index.html Fedora Elections Guide] provides information about the voting system for all Fedora elections.


The scheduling of the election will be set by the Fedora Election Coordinator after consultation with the Chairperson. Full details of the schedule will be announced widely prior to the beginning of the nomination period. In conjunction with other Fedora elections, reminder emails will be sent to those who are eligible to vote several times during the course of the election.
{{Anchor|Notes}}
 
== Notes ==
The election results will be announced in the ambassadors@lists.fedoraproject.org and other public lists.
There are no term limits imposed by this policy. If FAmSCo chooses to impose term limits for its internal positions (Chair, VP, etc) those should be specified in the FAmSCo by-laws rather than this document.
 
=== Misconduct ===
 
'''Problem:''' Not sure if this is really a problem, because we didn't have to remove anybody form FAmSCo until now. Nevertheless the fact that the [[Board]] can remove an elected member from FAmSCo is a problem with the constitution.
 
'''Cause:''' Current election rules state:
 
''"Members can be removed from the committee for misconduct by the Fedora Project Board or by an absolute majority vote of the FAmSCo."''
 
The board is an elected body of Fedora, so is FAmSCo. The board should not be in the position to remove somebody from FAmSCo, only FAmSCo should be able to do so. The board should only be able ''request'' the removal from FAm . If a person really misbehaves, the Board can
It is unclear what happens if FAmSCo disagrees
 
'''Proposed solution:''' Skip the Members can be removed from the committee for misconduct by the Fedora Project Board or by an absolute majority vote of the FAmSCo.

Latest revision as of 23:21, 4 April 2012

Note.png
Introduction
This a result of

FAmSCo Election Policy

FAmSCo elections help to keep the leadership of the project in touch with the ambassadors who make up the project.

Schedule

FAmSCo elections will be held twice a year, as part of the Fedora Project combined election process.

Seats on FAmSCo

There will be 7 seats on FAmSCo. 7 seats were up for the F16 and earlier elections, and the following election will have 3 seats up for vote. The 3 seats that will be up for election will be the bottom 3 vote-getters from the prior election. The 4 seats not up for election in the F17 election, will be up for election in F18. After that, the seats up for election will alternate based on the seats up for election in the prior election.

Candidates

Candidates may be any member of the ambassadors group in the Fedora Accounts System. This helps ensure FAmSCo members have some experience with the processes of Fedora but still allows relatively new contributors to sit on FAmSCo and bring fresh ideas to the table.

Candidates must self nominate at least three days before the election opens by writing their information onto the wiki (Fedora account, email and irc nick, statement of past contributions and what they hope to accomplish while a member of FAmSCo.) In addition, candidates must not be a citizen of an export-restricted country (see Legal/Export#Embargoed_Destinations for the list of export restricted countries).

In order to hold an election, a minimum number of candidates are necessary. This will be the number of open seats + 25%. If there are 4 seats available, there will need to be at least 5 candidates. If not enough candidates have signed up by the deadline, the election may be delayed waiting for more candidates to appear, in coordination with the schedule for combined Fedora elections. If there are still not enough candidates, the candidates who are present will be voted upon (or merely confirmed if there are less candidates than open seats.) If FAmSCo does not have the full number of seats filled at this point, please see Filling Vacant Seats below.

Voters

Any person in the Fedora Account System who has completed the Contributor License Agreement and is member of at least one other group - including, but not limited to the group of ambassadors - is eligible to vote in the FAmSCo elections.

Members

Members of FAmSCo are elected for a term of two (2) major releases of Fedora. However, a FAmSCo member may resign his/her seat at any time for any reason by notifying the rest of the committee as well as the Fedora Ambassadors community of their decision.

In the event of repeated absence without contact, or other serious misconduct or negligence, a FAmSCo member may be subject to removal. Before any other process occurs, the FAmSCo member in question will be personally contacted by the FAmSCo Chair to try to resolve the situation. If this contact does not successfully resolve the situation, the FAmSCo member in question may be removed by unanimous vote of the other members of FAmSCo. Any resulting open seat will be filled as described in Filling Vacant Seats below. The term of the interim member will be the remainder of the original term for that seat.

Election of the Chairperson

Once an election is completed, the committee must elect a Chairperson. This must be done by not later than weeks or two meetings that are held after the election. Until a new Chairperson is elected, the current chair will continue in that role. The FAmSCo Chairperson can only be removed from this position by an unanimous vote of the other FAmSCo members. If this happens, a new Chairperson must be elected within one week.

Appointment of Vice-Chairperson

No later than two weeks after election, the FAmSCo chairperson will appoint the Vice-Chairperson. The FAmSCo Vice-Chairperson can only be removed from this position by an unanimous vote of the other FAmSCo members. If this happens, a new Vice-Chairperson must be appointed within one week.

Filling Vacant Seats

If FAmSCo does not have all its seats filled due to members leaving or other lack, the vacant seats will attempt to be filled by the following methods:

  1. If there are runner-up candidates from the previous election that did not have the opportunity to be on FAmSCo, they will be considered and offered a seat.
  2. If those candidates have been exhausted or FAmSCo does not consider them eligible, FAmSCo will ask Fedora community members that they think would do a good job if they would be willing to hold the open seats.
  3. If the open seats are still not filled, FAmSCo will operate with less members until the next FAmSCo election.

Voting System

The Fedora Elections Guide provides information about the voting system for all Fedora elections.

Notes

There are no term limits imposed by this policy. If FAmSCo chooses to impose term limits for its internal positions (Chair, VP, etc) those should be specified in the FAmSCo by-laws rather than this document.

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