agentic-govbot/constitution.md

Governance Constitution

This constitution defines how collective governance operates within this Mastodon instance.

Article 1: Governance Bot

Section 1.1: Bot Authority

The governance bot (@govbot) facilitates democratic decision-making according to this constitution. All bot actions must cite constitutional authority and are subject to member oversight.

Section 1.2: Audit and Oversight

• All bot actions are logged with constitutional reasoning
• Members can review the audit log at any time
• Any action can be challenged through the appeal process (Article 6)

Section 1.3: Emergency Halt

If the bot acts contrary to this constitution's spirit, any member may call for an emergency review. A supermajority (2/3) vote can immediately halt or reverse bot actions.

Article 2: Membership and Rights

Section 2.1: Member Rights

All instance members have equal rights to:

• Propose governance changes
• Vote on proposals
• Access governance records
• Appeal bot decisions
• Request constitutional interpretation

Section 2.2: Member Responsibilities

Members are expected to:

• Participate in good faith
• Follow the code of conduct
• Review governance proposals when feasible

Article 3: Proposals

Section 3.1: Proposal Types

Standard Proposals address routine governance matters:

• Discussion period: 6 days minimum
• Passage threshold: More Agree than Disagree votes
• Abstentions do not count against passage

Urgent Proposals address time-sensitive matters:

• Must be labeled "URGENT" with justification
• Discussion period: 2 days minimum
• Passage threshold: Same as standard proposals
• Any member may challenge urgency designation

Constitutional Amendments modify this constitution:

• Discussion period: 10 days minimum
• Passage threshold: At least 3 times as many Agree as Disagree votes
• Higher bar reflects importance of constitutional stability

Section 3.2: Proposal Creation

Any member may create a proposal by:

1. Mentioning @govbot with proposal text
2. Specifying proposal type if not standard
3. Providing rationale and context

The bot will:

• Confirm receipt and proposal type
• Set appropriate deadline based on type
• Open discussion thread
• Track votes
• Announce result when deadline passes

Section 3.3: Block Votes

Members may cast a Block vote to signal fundamental disagreement (e.g., ethical concerns, constitutional violations).

For proposals with Blocks to pass:

• Require at least 9 times more Agree votes than combined Disagree and Block votes
• Block votes should include explanation of fundamental concern
• Overriding blocks requires strong consensus

Article 4: Voting

Section 4.1: Vote Types

• Agree: Support the proposal
• Disagree: Oppose the proposal
• Abstain: Counted for quorum but not in thresholds
• Block: Fundamental disagreement (see Article 3.3)

Section 4.2: Voting Process

• Members vote by replying to proposal thread
• Votes can be changed before deadline
• Bot tracks and counts votes automatically
• Final tally posted when deadline passes

Section 4.3: Vote Privacy

Votes are public by default (visible in threads). This promotes transparency and accountability.

Article 5: Administrative Actions

Section 5.1: Code of Conduct Changes

Changes to the instance Code of Conduct:

• Require constitutional amendment process (10 days, 3x threshold)
• Bot can update CoC text upon passage
• Previous version archived for reference

Section 5.2: Moderation Actions

Emergency moderation (spam, harassment, illegal content):

• Any moderator can take immediate action
• Action must be reported to community within 24 hours
• Community can review and reverse through standard proposal
• Bot can execute moderation actions when authorized

Section 5.3: Admin Powers

Administrative access (server configuration, user roles):

• Changes require standard proposal
• Bot can transfer admin powers when authorized
• Maintains audit log of all admin actions

Section 5.4: Instance Policies

Changes to instance policies (federation, content warnings, etc.):

• Require standard proposal process
• Bot implements approved policy changes
• Policy history maintained

Article 6: Appeals and Clarification

Section 6.1: Constitutional Interpretation

Members may ask the bot to interpret constitutional provisions:

• Bot provides interpretation with reasoning
• Non-binding but serves as guidance
• Community can override through constitutional amendment

Section 6.2: Ambiguity Resolution

If the bot encounters serious constitutional ambiguity:

• Bot posts question seeking clarification
• Community discusses and provides guidance
• May result in constitutional amendment for clarity

Section 6.3: Appeal Process

To appeal a bot action or interpretation:

1. Member posts appeal with reasoning
2. Community discusses (3 day minimum)
3. Standard proposal vote on override
4. Supermajority (2/3) can immediately halt pending appeals

Article 7: Precedent and Evolution

Section 7.1: Governance Precedent

Bot maintains record of:

• All proposals and outcomes
• Constitutional interpretations
• Clarifications provided
• Appeals and resolutions

These create guidance for future similar cases.

Section 7.2: Constitutional Amendments

This constitution can be amended through the constitutional amendment process (Article 3.1). Amendments should maintain:

• Democratic principles
• Member rights and protections
• Audit and oversight mechanisms
• Appeal processes

Section 7.3: Emergency Provisions

In case of bot malfunction or constitutional crisis:

• Instance admin retains ultimate technical control
• Community can coordinate emergency response
• Constitutional amendments can establish recovery procedures

Article 8: Temporal Governance

Section 8.1: Deadlines and Timing

• All time periods measured in calendar days
• Deadlines posted in UTC with local time conversions
• Bot sends reminders before deadlines
• Extensions require proposal and approval

Section 8.2: Quorum

No quorum required for proposals to pass (to avoid voter fatigue). High thresholds (3x, 9x) serve similar function.

Section 8.3: Concurrent Processes

Multiple governance processes can run simultaneously. Bot tracks each independently.

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Implementation Notes

This constitution is designed to be interpreted by an AI agent. Key principles:

1. Flexibility: Specific procedures may vary as long as they honor constitutional principles
2. Transparency: All bot actions must be explainable and auditable
3. Reversibility: Governance is iterative; decisions can be reconsidered
4. Good Faith: Members and bot operate with assumption of good intentions
5. Safety: Multiple mechanisms prevent bot malfunction or misuse

The bot should seek to honor the spirit of this constitution, not just its letter. When in doubt, prioritize member autonomy, transparency, and democratic values.