At the RA meeting on July 7, 2024, the RA was asked to look at the process of removing and/or replacing RA members.
Over email, relevant sections of the Constitution (Article I. 3. b), existing Laws (eg CDSL 20-01) and old forum posts were discussed, and a review of the RA's internal Rules of Procedure document was started.
For the record, here is the proposed updated text:
Proposed RA Rules of Procedure
Assembly Structure
The Assembly's core membership consists of a Leader, a Leader pro tempore, and an Archivist, with roles and appointment procedures outlined in the Constitution. Additional roles may be established as needed.
Should a role remain unfilled for a significant duration due to the current role holder's absence (whether unforeseen or scheduled), the Assembly has the authority to assign another member to that role, whilst the replacement procedure (as established by the CDSL 20-02 By-Election Procedures Act) is ongoing.
Agenda
The Leader of the Representative Assembly (LRA) will determine the proposed agenda for each meeting, and publish it on a notecard and on the forum at least 24 hours before each meeting. It is expected that all members will suggest agenda items, but the LRA will prepare the final draft. If the RA membership feels that the LRA has not brought an agenda item to the meeting that they want, a petition agreed to by a majority of all members can insert an agenda item into the list for the next meeting.
Every agenda for the RA shall be based on a schedule of a maximum of two hours, with an open discussion time allowed at the end.
Meeting Procedures
Administrative time first
During the administrative time, the LRA shall perform administrative business on the RA agenda and shall entertain procedural motions and additional Agenda items from the RA.
RA decision on an action item after debate closes
Following the allocated time for debate, the RA shall either move to vote on the issue, move for further debate, or move to allow amendments and further debate. If the RA wishes further debate or amendments, no vote shall be held, and the matter shall be tabled until the next session of the RA. At this time, the matter shall be considered as a “Old Business” on the agenda. If the RA has voted to allow amendments, the matter shall be tabled and amendments shall be drafted and submitted to the LRA and posted on the forums at least one day before the date on which the LRA is to publish the RA agenda.
Citizen Input
Any citizen may propose legislation to the RA by emailing the proposal to the LRA, giving the LRA a proposal inworld on notecard, or posting the proposed text in the “Legislative Discussion” forum, requesting that the LRA add the proposal to the agenda.
Posting the content of the bill on the forum is also strongly suggested so that public opinion can be gathered. It is suggested that the bill contain two parts; a summary of what is proposed, and a detailed statement of the proposed action and its implications.
The members and the public need to know the issues on what will be a wide variety of matters, and those persons must not be assumed to have a complete understanding of the issues — i.e. the bill should be an educational document.
Public Proceedings
All meetings of the RA will be public, and all citizens of CDS are welcome to attend and participate. During the meeting, any citizen can talk at any point of the agenda after having asked the LRA. Non-citizens are welcome too, but they should listen only, and not speak. If non-member residents disrupt proceedings, they should be subject to actions which may end in being teleported home and banned from CDS. By simple majority vote, RA may enter into a closed session to discuss legal or personnel matters. Although no transcript is kept in closed session, journal entries are kept normally unless the secrecy provision is invoked per Article I of the constitution.
A closed session may be one of three types, to be determined by the RA when the vote to enter closed session:
RA Members only
Members + invited guests (the LRA determines who is to be invited)
Citizens + invited guests (the LRA determines who is to be invited).
Committees
The LRA can create committees of members for study and information gathering on proposed topics (bills, agenda items of all sorts). Committees will be formed of volunteers, and the LRA will make efforts to ensure that committees contain a balanced range of interests. Committee members can be non-members of the RA. Each topic that a committee receives for attention must be brought back to the RA for action, even if the recommendation is to drop it.
Public Access to Proposed Bills
A notecard dispenser will be placed in a convenient place in the meeting premises (and elsewhere, if people wish), to disseminate the information needed for the meeting. This dispenser will contain the Agenda, a copy of each proposed Bill, and supporting materials which members may wish to offer for the efficient discussion of a topic.
Published Proceedings
All proceedings will be recorded and published in the Representative Assembly Announcements forum.
Recording Approved Bills
The RA Archivist shall publish copies of all approved bills on the CDS website.
Quorum
A quorum for all RA business is equal to a minimum of 50%+1 members in attendance. In the absence of a quorum, discussion may be held, but no action can be taken.
7-Day Vote
Any member who is absent from a meeting can request a 7-day vote if they tell the LRA before the meeting.