This protocol governs how the Steward Council operates — the coordination, decision-making, and accountability practices for Alliance stewardship.
Instantiation
Trigger Type: Ongoing
Trigger Condition:
- The Steward Council exists with one or more Stewards
Authority & Oversight
| Role | Authority | Accountability |
|---|---|---|
| Steward Council | Operational decisions, asset management | Alliance Assembly |
| Individual Stewards | Contribute to collective decisions | Steward Council |
| Alliance Assembly | Ultimate oversight, strategic direction | The Constitution |
Council Composition
All Stewards are members of the Steward Council. There is no fixed size; the Council expands and contracts based on capacity and need.
Decision-Making
| Decision Type | Method | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Operational matters | Lazy consensus | No objections in 48 hours |
| Resource allocation | Consent-based | No paramount objections |
| Policy recommendations | Consent-based | No paramount objections |
| Emergency actions | Any Steward | Ratification within 7 days |
See Decision-Making Protocol for method details.
Meetings
Regular Coordination
- Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly (Council determines)
- Format: Synchronous video call
- Purpose: Operational coordination, decision-making, mutual support
Async Coordination
- Ongoing via designated channel
- Used for: Quick decisions, updates, questions between meetings
Strategic Planning
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Purpose: Review priorities, assess capacity, plan ahead
Rights & Responsibilities
Steward Council (Collective)
Rights:
- Make operational decisions for the Alliance
- Manage Alliance assets and resources
- Recommend policy to Alliance Assembly
- Coordinate external representation
Responsibilities:
- Maintain Alliance infrastructure and operations
- Support Member participation and activities
- Provide transparency to Alliance Assembly
- Steward resources responsibly
Individual Stewards
Rights:
- Participate in all Council decisions
- Propose agenda items and decisions
- Take emergency action when necessary
- Access all Alliance operational information
Responsibilities:
- Attend regular coordination meetings
- Respond to operational matters promptly
- Support fellow Stewards
- Document decisions and actions
Coordination Practices
Agenda Setting: Any Steward may add items; agenda shared before meetings Facilitation: Rotates among Stewards or designated facilitator Note-Taking: Decisions and action items documented Action Tracking: Clear ownership and follow-up on commitments
Accountability to Alliance Assembly
Regular Reporting:
- Updates at each Alliance Assembly gathering
- Quarterly written summaries shared with Members
- Annual comprehensive report
Transparency:
- Decision records available to Members on request
- Financial reports per Treasury Management Protocol
- Open to questions and feedback
Direction-Taking:
- Alliance Assembly may direct Council on specific matters
- Constitutional changes bind Council operations
- Assembly may override Council decisions (rarely exercised)
Adding and Removing Stewards
Adding (through 2027):
- Candidate expresses interest
- Existing Stewards discuss and reach consent
- If consent, candidate joins Council
- Assembly notified at next gathering
Removing:
- Steward may step down voluntarily (see Steward Protocol)
- Removal for cause handled through Conflict Transformation Protocol
- Post-2027 process to be determined by Assembly
Completion & Outputs
Protocol is ongoing while:
- Steward Council exists
Outputs:
- Meeting notes and decision records
- Action item tracking
- Reports to Alliance Assembly
Exceptions & Edge Cases
- Single Steward: If only one Steward remains, they operate with enhanced Assembly oversight until additional Stewards join
- Steward conflicts: Stewards recuse from decisions where personally conflicted
- Capacity constraints: Council may pause non-essential activities during low-capacity periods
Related Protocols
- Steward Protocol — Individual Steward expectations
- Decision-Making Protocol — Decision methods
- Treasury Management Protocol — Financial operations
- Alliance Assembly Protocol — Relationship with Assembly