General

Fundamentally, the same way the Party always has: by consensus.

All decisions are made by the relevant assembly. There is no central party body and no central committee; we do not need conference to make decisions either, but instead exist in a kind of perpetual conference. (This is not to say we will not have actual physical conferences in the future, mind!)

In order for Party Consensus to be formed an assembly has to carry out a sequence of specific steps.

Wherever we've met (wherever it may be), we've always used the same three-step process:

1. Propose (in a given assembly) and simple discussion; if the proposal is simple, and everyone agrees it is, then consensus is obtained and the five day cooling off period commences (though labour can also begin in parallel if desirable and useful). If the proposal is complex enough to warrant further discussion first, then

2. a meeting, called a Moot, is called. This gathering is open to everyone in the applicable assembly where the proposal occurred. If there is crossover with other assemblies, those assemblies are also invited to the Moot, and a temporary umbrella assembly is formed if no applicable umbrella assembly already exists.

   At the Moot there is discussion and, if necessary, debate on whether to pursue the proposal, or if there are competing proposals, which proposal to move forwards with.

   If consensus is formed, then there is a five day cooling off period afterwards for people who were not present at the meeting to have input on the decision; if the input is starkly negative, there will be another Moot to include more voices.

   If there is no consensus formed at this or these Moots and after substantial discussion it is agreed there is deadlock, then

3. a ballot is arranged using the STAR ballot system. The winning proposal becomes Party Consensus.

Here on the Decidim things are more or less the same, but some of the steps have slightly different names. Here's how it looks on this platform:

1. Propose in the correct assembly an action.

   If the action is simple, and it accrues an overwhelming number of votes and endorsements, the proposal is adopted as consensus.

   If it receives no votes and no endorsements the proposal will be deleted after 14 days; if it receives fewer votes than needed to progress it will be removed after 28 days.

   If any participant or member comments on the proposal page requesting a meeting, it is assumed to be a complex proposal regardless of votes and endorsements, and then

2. a meeting, usually called a Moot, is called and advertised here on the Decidim. The assembly may hold the meeting online or off but the meeting must be held in accordance with the Party Constitution.

   Either minutes or a working document or both will be added to the meeting page here on the Decidim before and after the meeting takes place. The working document will be added before the meeting and will include items such as an agenda and a space for participants to make comments ahead of time. This will enable people to participate both before the meeting and after, during the five day cooling off period, should one occur, regardless of actual attendance. We call these asynchronous meetings. If the meeting produces a clear answer, then that is consensus; if it does not, and deadlock occurs, then

3. as above, we will hold a STAR ballot. The winning proposal becomes Party Consensus.