Team Musketeers Constitution

On February 15, 2011 This was ratified

Preamble

We the People of Team Musketeer's, in Order to form a more perfect Team, establish Justice, insure Equality, provide for the common Respect, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for Team Musketeer's (a respectfully adapted quote of the United States Constitution).

All team members shall be treated equally, without any discrimination as a result of sex, national origin, religion, language, color of skin, or age. All members of Team Musketeer's hold the granted right to crunch whatever they like, whenever they like and for whichever team they like. All musketeers are equal and have one vote. Limited power is given to elected persons in order to maintain the infrastructure and to protect the spirit of the team.

The purpose of this team is supporting science on the BOINC platform, having fun and helping others.

This team has been founded to bring all peoples from every corner of the earth to unite into one team. This is a team of international members who have the betterment of our world and mankind in their thoughts. We are not a political movement. We hold true that each person on this planet has worth and is special. We shall strive to help each other and to be a better part of mankind. It is also our goal to connect the borders in this world to help science and to bring our real selves to show what can be accomplished if we work together.

This document is considered a living document and shall be revised as needed to govern the needs of the team as they come forth.

Section 1 Membership

a) Associate Members

Associate members simply crunch for the team without getting involved. We welcome all members, no matter if large or small. Associate members don't hold musketeer status.

b) Special Op's 

Special op's are associated members and trusted friends of Team Musketeer's. We trust our friends in a special way and we want them to get involved into most team and forum affairs, including team polls and non-constitutional votes. Special op's don't hold musketeer status.

c) Musketeer Administrators

Every musketeer is an administrator of our team forum and has full access to all forums and member data. All musketeers are eligible to participate in constitutional votes and may become candidates for the elder position.

Every musketeer holds an avatar and number, which is shown on the homepage.

d) Musketeer Elders 

Eleven team members with full access to all team resources that are needed to maintain the team. In constitutional votes the collective elder group has veto power if the majority of elders agree. Elders are assigned to musketeer numbers 0 to10. All elders will list their full name, email address, home phone and cell phone in the elder listing. This listing is only available to elder members.

e) Musketeer Chairman

Team Elder, Musketeer number 0. The chairman is responsible for the tiebreaker vote in elections concerning elders. He is the governing member and organizer in elder and team discussions concerning rules and site changes.

Section 2 Special Rights

a) Associate Members

Associate members don't have any special rights since they do not get involved into team or forum affairs. Associate members have the right to ask for special op’s or musketeer membership.

b) Special Op's 

Special op's have the right to vote in any member poll and non-constitutional member vote.

Special op's have the right to ask for a musketeer membership. Special op's have the right and are encouraged to speak up in all important team affairs and advise the team.

c) Musketeer Administrators

Musketeers have the right to vote in all elections or polls, except for elder decisions. After a minimum of six months musketeers will be eligible to become a candidate for a vacant elder position.

Any musketeer has the right to grant any associate or special op’s member special op's or musketeer membership.  Musketeers have the right to ban any non-elder for offensive or illegal forum actions.

Except for the right to veto and access to full infrastructure all musketeers are equal partners in leading the team and will have full access to the vast majority of discussions.

d) Musketeer Elders 

Musketeer elder rights are equal to musketeer rights. Additionally they have the right to veto by majority in constitutional votes to protect the spirit of the team. As founders, elders may create new teams and sign the team up for challenges if there is interest. Elders have the right to ban or delete any member, other than Elders, for any reason that may hurt or damage the team. Elders have full access to all servers, funds and passwords that are owned by the team.

Elders have access to an own forum to keep themselves organized. However, exclusive discussions will be kept to a minimum. The council of elders is not a government of the team, even if its members naturally may contribute a lot of influence and computing power.

e) Team Chairman  

The chairman has the right for the tiebreaker vote in elder elections. He has the right to be the governing member and organizer in elder and team discussions and votes concerning rules and site changes.

Section 3 Special Duties

a) Associate Members

  Associate and special op's members don't have any duties

b) Musketeer Administrators

In case of a prolonged absence musketeers are supposed to leave a message at the forums. They are supposed to contribute a significant amount of their computing power or their online time to Team Musketeer's. The definition of ‘significant contribution' will be at their sole discretion.

c) Musketeer Elders 

All elders will list their full name, email address, home phone and cell phone in the elder listing. This listing is only available to elder members.

Elders that are going to be out of reach for any prolonged time should post their schedule on the forum. Elders are supposed to contribute a huge amount of their computing power and their online time to Team Musketeer's. The definition of 'huge contribution' will be at their sole discretion.

Section 4 Polls, Appeals and Elections

There are several kinds of elections and polls: team polls, member elections, constitutional elections, status appeals and finally veto decisions.

4.1 Team Polls

Any musketeer and special op's member may set up a team poll in the special op's area. Team polls may run at any length. The result is a brainstorming and has no binding consequences.

Eligible to take part: All musketeers and special op's

4.2 Team Elections

Any musketeer or special op's member may initiate a team election. This will be done by approaching The Chairman or any other team Elder in case of The Chairman's absence. The result will be mandatory for the team. Please consider, in a team with such a great amount of granted individual freedom, there won't be many opportunities to initiate elections.

Eligible to vote: All musketeers and special op's

4.3 Constitutional Election

All musketeers may initiate a constitutional election. This will be done by approaching the chairman or another team elder in his absence. Elders will have a right to veto.

Eligible to vote: All musketeers

4.4 Status Appeals

Any musketeer may make an appeal for any member who has been banned or had his/her status removed. A status appeal will be set up by an elder, and the musketeers will vote to retain or repeal the action. This action cannot be vetoed by the elders.

Eligible to vote: All musketeers

4.5 Elder and Chairman Elections

Will be held whenever a position becomes open and there are several candidates. Any musketeer is eligible to campaign for an elder position if he/she joined the team at least six months ago and if he/she is older than 18 years.

Any elder is eligible to campaign for the Chairman position whenever the position becomes open.

Eligible to vote: All musketeers

4.6 Veto

Any elder may initiate a veto decision against an election result within three days. This puts all changes on hold. The elders now have three days to discuss and finally initiate a vote.

Eligible to vote: All elders

4.7 Minimum majority and length of votes

Polls may run at any length and don't need majority decisions

All member elections will run for 7 days, all elder elections and status appeals for 3 days. The chairman or the elders will make sure there was enough time for discussion before the voting starts.

Member, elder and status votes need more than 50% majority; constitutional votes need more than 66% majority. Only active votes will be counted for the result.

Elections require at least 50% majority. If no candidate manages to gain more than 50%, the two candidates with most votes will be eligible for a second election round.

Section 5 Bans

No member can be banned from the team for having a different opinion or for being disliked by any other member. The reason has to be given to all musketeers including the banned person. The banned person has the right to appeal against the ban within 7 days. All musketeers will discuss this case and finally come to a decision by vote.

Bans from the team can only be applied by elders and have to be confirmed by two other elders first if there are massive hints for destructive behavior that may damage the integrity of the team.

Section 6 Future Changes

Only constitutional votes can authorize future changes of this document

Section 7 How to become a Musketeer

Most team members have been invited to become a musketeer. But you are more than welcome to join us at any time. If you just want to be an associate member, just help us with crunching by joining any of our teams on any BOINC project.

If you want to become a special op's member, introduce yourself at the forum and learn to know us. To be promoted to roles like special op's and musketeer membership you may ask any musketeer to sponsor you. All musketeers have the ability to assign you to these team positions if they find you trustworthy.

To become a full musketeer member, you have to be sixteen years or older.

 Section 8 Forum Status

Our friends and guests may be promoted in forum status without being team members if we want them to take part in special discussions. We have faith in you not to interfere into team votes.

However, we respect and appreciate your advice and opinion on all team affairs.

 Section 9 Inactivity and Leaves

No musketeer will lose his status or avatar in case of an announced period of absence. In case of disappearing members without notice you may lose your status. This will be done by the elders similar to a ban procedure. You have the right to appeal against this decision at any time.

Signing members

Farscape – Musketeer #1

shiva - Musketeer #2

Jose - Musketeer #4

Swordfish - Musketeer #5

Bryan - Musketeer #6

Mad Matt - Musketeer #7

Ricardo Ferreira -Musketeer #8

Christopher Herr - Musketeer #10

Maxwell - Musketeer #15

Mike - Musketeer #17

February 15, 2011 Time 0.00 UTC

Thank You..

DD,