Revisions to Articles XII. Board and XIII. Functions of the Board. Motion "Increase the Board Size"

GA 2018 Proposals Statutes revision
1

Name of the motion : Increase the Board Size

Presentation of the motion : We propose to increase the board size of PPI by 4 members, a new statute whereby board members will be designated as Vice Secretaries of specific tasks, and revisions to voting for Board members and Board nominations.

Text of Motion to Read at the GA’
Part One: Does the GA agree to increase the board size by 4 members? (This article would go into effect at the current GA.)

Part Two: Does the GA agree to allow the Board to designate 7 Vice Secretaries among the elected Board members? (This article would go into effect at the current GA.)

Part Three: Does the GA wish to elect the positions of Treasurer and General Secretary, rather than having the Board nominate these positions? (Owing to the 2-year terms of positions, this article would go into effect at the 2019 GA.)

This motion will require 4 modifications of the statutes :

  • Article XII. (3) to increase the number of board members
  • New article XII. (3a) to include specific tasks for each board member (CEO, Spokesperson, Treasurer, General Secretary, and 7 Vice Secretaries).
  • Article XII. (4) modification of the rules concerning vacant seats
  • Article XIII. (1) f) the Board will be responsible for naming Vice-Secretaries while the GA will be responsible for naming the General Secretary.

Body of the motion :

Article XII (3) will be amended as follows :
(3) The Board is composed of:
a) one Chairperson, CEO
b) one Vice-Chairperson, Spokesperson
c) one Treasurer, CFO
d) a General Secretary
e) Seven Vice-Secretaries
The GA will vote on the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, General Secretary, and Seven Vice-Secretaries. The Board will vote on the Vice-Secretaries among the elected members following the GA.

Article XII, after paragraph (3), the following article will be inserted:
(3a) The Board will decide on the tasks of the Vice-Secretaries among itself, so as to delegate tasks needed. The Vice-Secretaries are stipulated to be the following:
a) Vice-Secretary for Member Relations
b) Vice-Secretary for International Institutions and NGO Affairs
c) Vice-Secretary for International Policies
d) Vice-Secretary for Training
e) Vice-Secretary for Communications and Social Media
f) Vice-Secretary for Conferences and Special Events
g) Vice-Secretary for IT (application development and website maintenance)

Article XII (4) will be amended as follows :
(4) If the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the treasurer, or the general secretary position is vacant following the rules of the article XIII (8), the Board elects among Vice-Secretaries a successor. An alternate board member would then be nominated to fulfill the vacated position of Vice-Secretary. No Board Member shall fulfill more than one office.

Article XIII (1) f) will be amended as follows :
f) to appoint the Vice-Secretaries and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,

Complete Revisions Proposed
(1) Pirate Parties International is managed by the Board, the executive organ. The members of the Board shall consider the interests of the Pirate movement as a whole and shall neither consider themselves, nor be considered, as representing any particular member or non-member organization or region.

[GA vote is not required]

(2) The Board and the Alternate Members are elected for two years by the General Assembly at the regular sessions or if an extraordinary session is requested for that purpose.

[Remove]

[GA vote is not required]

(3) The Board is composed of:

a) one Chairperson, CEO

b) one Vice-Chairperson, Spokesperson

c) one Treasurer, CFO

d) a General Secretary

e) Seven Vice-Secretaries

The GA will vote on the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, General Secretary, and Seven Vice-Secretaries. The Board will vote on the Vice-Secretaries among the elected members following the GA.

[GA vote is required]

(3a) The Board will decide on the tasks of the Vice-Secretaries among itself, so as to delegate tasks needed. The Vice-Secretaries are stipulated to be the following:

a) Vice-Secretary for Member Relations

b) Vice-Secretary for International Institutions and NGO Affairs

c) Vice-Secretary for International Policies

d) Vice-Secretary for Training

e) Vice-Secretary for Communications and Social Media

f) Vice-Secretary for Conferences and Special Events

g) Vice-Secretary for IT (application development and website maintenance)

[GA vote is required]

(4) If the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the treasurer, or the general secretary position is vacant following the rules of the article XIII (8), the Board elects among Vice-Secretaries a successor. An alternate board member would then be nominated to fulfill the vacated position of Vice-Secretary. No Board Member shall fulfill more than one office.

[GA vote is required]

(5) [deleted]

[remove]

[GA vote is not required]

(5) Other positions may be created by the Board.

[no change]

(6) There shall be four Alternate Members of the Board. If a seat of the Board becomes vacant, one of the Alternate Members shall be appointed to the board in order of the list. The position of the Alternate Members on the list shall be determined by approval voting.

[GA vote is not required]

(7) Alternate Members of the Board shall have no designated position, but may be elected into one by a majority vote of the Board if an elected board member vacates her or his position.

[GA vote is not required]

XIII. 1. f) to appoint the Vice-Secretaries and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,

[GA vote is required]

Original text

(1) Pirate Parties International is managed by the Board, the executive organ. The members of the Board shall consider the interests of the Pirate movement as a whole and shall neither consider themselves, nor be considered, as representing any particular Member or non-member Organization or region.

(2) The Board and the Alternate Members are elected for two years by the General Assembly at the regular sessions or if an extraordinary session is requested for that purpose.

(2a) This rule applies only once: At the next regular session, every secondary seat of the Board and the Alternate Board – according to the number of their previous votes – will be new elected due to establish a rotating system. In case of a tie at the previous votes a decision is taken by drawing lot.

(3) The Board is composed of: a) one Chairperson, b) one Vice-Chairperson, c) five additional Board Members

(4) The Board elects among the Board Members a) a Treasurer and b) a Chief of Administration c) a Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson if the seat became vacant No Board Member shall fulfil more than one office.

(5) [deleted]

(6) Other positions may be created by the Board.

(7) There shall be four Alternate Members of the Board. If one seat of the Board becomes vacant, one of the Alternate Members shall follow-up according to a list. The position of the Alternate Members on the list shall be determined by approval voting.

(8) Alternate Members following-up on the Board shall have no office, but may be elected into one by a majority vote of the Board.

XIII. 1. f) to appoint the Secretary General of Pirate Parties International, and to appoint his Deputy or Deputies upon a recommendation of the Secretary General; and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,

Support : PPIL

Rapporteur : @keithg

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The third part of this motion, to vote directly for Treasurer and General Secretary will also require revisions to the following articles:

XIV. PPI Headquarters

Original text
(2) The PPI Headquarters shall serve as the Secretariat of Pirate Parties International. It shall comprise the Secretary General of the Pirate Parties International and such staff as the Organization may require. The Secretary General shall be appointed by the Board and shall be the chief administrative officer of Pirate Parties International.

Suggested revision
(2) PPI Headquarters shall serve as the Secretariat of Pirate Parties International. It shall comprise the General Secretary of PPI and such staff as the Organization may require. The General Secretary shall be appointed by the GA and shall be the chief administrative officer of PPI.

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XII. Board

Text of Motion to Read at the GA ’

  1. PPDE proposes that half of the new members are elected for one year, and the other half are elected for two years.

  2. PPDE recommends only increasing the board size by two members.

  1. The Board is composed of: a) one Chairperson, b) one Vice-Chairperson, c) seven additional Board Members

(2b) XII. Board (2a) is invoked once again for the change from five to seven additional board members.
This rule applies only once: the two additional members will be elected as follows: one additional board member will be elected for two years, one additional board member will be elected for one year to keep on in the rotating system.

Reasoning: we follow the idea given by PPIL have more people on the board but we like to keep it the way as it is. As simple as it is. If it is applicable at all. It shall follow the current rotating given by the two years (one for 1 year, one for two years).

Support : PPDE

Rapporteur : @thomas

4

Regarding the Motion on : “XIV. PPI Headquarters” - The German delegation will vote “no” to this motion.The operation of PPI HQ is not of political nature, but of financial - as such it is in the tasks of the board to execute control and have the responsibilities for HQ operations. So we believe, that the officers of the HQ should be appointed by the board, esp to ensure business continuity, e.g. after a resignation of one of HQ officers. We recommend to other PPI Members to dismiss this motions as well.

5

To clarify the comment of @Gregory, PPDE is opposed to Part 3 of this motion to directly elect Treasurer and General Secretary? PPIL will agree that Part Three is not necessary. However, PPIL feels very strongly about Part 1 (the increase in board members). Our opinion is that we would like at least 4 additional board members, owing to the increasing amount of work and human capital that the Board requires. Part 2 may not need to be a statute and can be included instead as a motion about rule of procedure of the board. Hence, PPIL would like to revise this motion of the statutes to simply include Part 1: Does the GA agree to increase the board size by 4 members? (This article would go into effect at the current GA.)

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Counterproposal to be read by PP-CZ;

XII. Board

(3) The Board is composed of: a) one Chairperson, b) one Vice-Chairperson, c) five three additional Board Members

XIII. Functions of the Board

(1) The functions of the Board are:

a) to act on behalf of the General Assembly between its meetings; to give effect to its decisions, recommendations and policies; and to represent it at international and national events,

b) to promote the Pirate Movement throughout the world by means of visits, correspondence, training courses and other appropriate action,

c) to advise and assist Member Organizations,

d) to recommend the admission of Organizations applying for Membership,

e) to prepare the agenda and procedure of the meetings of the General Assembly, giving consideration to suggestions from Member Organizations, and appoint the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the General Assembly meeting,

f) to appoint the Secretary General of Pirate Parties International, and to appoint his Deputy or Deputies upon a recommendation of the Secretary General; and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,

g) to appoint vice-secretaries of Pirate Parties International and delegate to them specified tasks of the Board,

g) h) to approve the annual budget and financial statements of the PPI Headquarters,

h) i) to accept the responsibility for the raising of additional funds, and

i) j) to exercise other functions resulting from these Statutes.

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XIII. Functions of the Board

(1) The functions of the Board are:

a) to act on behalf of the General Assembly between its meetings; to give effect to its decisions, recommendations and policies; and to represent it at international and national events,

b) to promote the Pirate Movement throughout the world by means of visits, correspondence, training courses and other appropriate action,

c) to advise and assist Member Organizations,

d) to recommend the admission of Organizations applying for Membership,

e) to prepare the agenda and procedure of the meetings of the General Assembly, giving consideration to suggestions from Member Organizations, and appoint the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the General Assembly meeting,

f) to appoint the Secretary General of Pirate Parties International, and to appoint his Deputy or Deputies upon a recommendation of the Secretary General; and to supervise the management of the PPI Headquarters,

g) to appoint vice-secretaries of Pirate Parties International and delegate to them specified tasks of the Board,

g) h) to approve the annual budget and financial statements of the PPI Headquarters,

h) i) to accept the responsibility for the raising of additional funds, and

~~i) ~~ j) to exercise other functions resulting from these Statutes.

8

Please note that we failed to discuss the inclusion proposed by PPCZ of vice secretaries, responsibility of additional funds… Does PPCZ still want to try to include this decision as a motion?

9

Ive extracted that proposal here: https://ppi.savvy.ch/t/appointment-of-vice-secretaries/93

So we can close this as discussed and voted upon.