From the Chairman

I have gone over the outline submitted by Delegate Tape and I am loathe to post any objections.

Yes, my original idea was to allow only one active motion at a time, and to shut down comments on other topics when a motion is either being debated or voted upon.

But I am not going to impose my ideas on the Committee. I am sure that when you have the caucus forums up and running according to your best consensus, you will still learn through experience what works and what doesn't, what is used by the delegates and what they ignore.

I am not as good at planning as I am at learning from my mistakes.

If, when the forums are in place, I perceive improvements that may be needed, I will make recommendations or suggestions. It will be for the Committee to decide whether changes are needed.

Starting outline for state caucus forums and motions

I've tried to put Judge Brennan's vision for state caucus forums and motions in an outline form that tries to spell it all out in detail.  This should give itself over better to revision, clear up (or call attention to) ambiguities and be easier to work from in developing the forum.  It is not meant to be anything like complete, but it seems to me like a good way to start.

1. Caucus FORUM pages
   1. Provide a FORUM for each of the state caucuses.
   2. Limit access to each state caucus forum to delegates from that state, and other selected delegates as appropriate.
   3. FORUM page will provide:
      1. A list of links to existing TOPICS pages including information on any MOTIONS pending for each TOPIC.
      2. Opening new TOPICS. If a NEW TOPIC is created, send email notification and invitation to comment, to every caucus member.
2. TOPICS pages
   1. At the top of the page:
      1. Display a form for caucus members to SUBMIT MOTIONS for consideration by the caucus. Include fields for the title of the MOTION and the text of the MOTION.
      2. For any PENDING MOTION, display the title, text and current state of the MOTION
         1. If no one has moved to CLOSE DEBATE, display a link to the MOTIONS page.
         2. If someone has moved to CLOSE DEBATE, display a link to the VOTE page.
   2. Allow caucus member to post COMMENTS to a TOPIC. When a COMMENT is posted, send email notification to members who have previously commented on that topic
3. MOTIONS Page
   1. Display the title, text and current state of the MOTION.
   2. Provide the ability to manage MOTIONS.
      1. If no one has moved to CLOSE DEBATE
         1. Display form for delegates to post COMMENTS on the MOTION. If delegate SUBMITS a COMMENT, send email notification to all members of the caucus.
         2. If the delegate has not submitted a comment, display a button to CLOSE DEBATE
      2. If a delegate has clicked to CLOSE DEBATE, send email notification to every delegate giving them 72 hours to vote on CLOSURE.
   3. Display all COMMENTS for the MOTION
4. VOTE page.
   1. Display
      1. The title, text and current state of the MOTION.
      2. A digital CLOCK showing how much time remains for voting.
      3. If the delegate has not already voted, and:
         1. the vote is on CLOSURE, display "DO YOU FAVOR CLOSING DEBATE ON THIS MOTION?" and a form for voting YES or NO.
         2. the vote is on passage of the MOTION, display "DO YOU FAVOR PASSAGE OF THIS MOTION?" and a form for voting YES or NO.
      4. A list of all delegates who have voted, whether they voted YES or NO, with totals at the bottom.
      5. A list of all delegates who have commented of the MOTION, with their COMMENT.
   2. If, at the end of the time for voting,
      1. there are more YES than NO votes
         1. if the VOTE is on CLOSURE, debate is closed and the CLOSURE VOTE page is replaced by a PASSAGE VOTE page
         2. if the VOTE is on PASSAGE debate is closed and the MOTION is PASSED
      2. there are more NO than YES votes
         1. if the VOTE is on CLOSURE, debate is closed and page reverts to the PENDING MOTION page
         2. if the VOTE is on PASSAGE debate is closed and the MOTION is FAILS

In one instance, I used my best judgement to reconcile two points that I was unsure corresponded with one another,  Judge Brennan wrote:"When a motion has been submitted ... The FORUM is no longer open," and "If, at the end of the time for voting on CLOSURE, there are more NO votes than YES votes, the page reverts to the PENDING MOTION page."


If a vote for CLOSURE failed and the MOTION reverted to PENDING, the FORUM would remain closed and the only possibility would be to comment and vote on the MOTION again.  So that debate could continue and so that a PENDING MOTION would not close the FORUM in one case but would in another, the outline does not indicate closing the FORUM when a motion is initially submitted.

Reverting a MOTION to a PENDING MOTION on a failed CLOSURE MOTION indicates that the original MOTION should remain for consideration, but I was not sure if more than one PENDING MOTION was permissible.  The logic of this outline permits multiple PENDING MOTIONS.

Test Forum Design

With no objection to the selection of MyBB as the forum software to pursue, I am now initiating the construction of a test forum.

The basic structure of the test forum and sub-forums will be constructed by 3/9.

I will attempt to unify the log in process with the Convention USA website by 3/16.

Regardless, on 3/16 I will make the test forum available to:
- All Convention USA officers,
- All Convention USA Committee Chairmen,
- Any other delegate requesting access, upon verification by the Credentials Committee.

To request access, post here with your delegate ID, or send a request to me at:
internet@ConventionUSA.org

Discussion on the basic design will be opened on 3/9.

Ben Prather
Internet Committee Chairman
internet@ConventionUSA.org