diff --git a/modpol/api.lua b/modpol/api.lua
index b5092de..d2be724 100644
--- a/modpol/api.lua
+++ b/modpol/api.lua
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ local localdir = modpol.topdir
 dofile (localdir .. "/users/users.lua")
 
 --orgs
-dofile (localdir .. "/orgs/new_orgs.lua")
+dofile (localdir .. "/orgs/orgs.lua")
 
 --interactions
 dofile (localdir .. "/interactions/interactions.lua")
diff --git a/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua b/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index bc78cd1..0000000
--- a/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,233 +0,0 @@
-modpol.orgs = 
-{
-    count = 1,
-    array = {}
-}
-
--- sets modpol.orgs as it's own fallback
-modpol.orgs.__index = modpol.orgs
-
--- ==================================================
--- returns org when given its id or name
-function modpol.orgs.get_org(id)
-    if type(id) == 'string' then
-        for id, org in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
-            if org.name == id then
-                return org
-            end
-        end
-    elseif type(id) == 'number' then
-        return modpol.orgs.array[id]
-    end
-end
-
--- ===============================================
--- returns a string list of all orgs
-function modpol.orgs.list_all()
-    local str
-    for k, v in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
-        if type(v) == 'table' then
-            if str then 
-                str = str .. '\n' .. v.name
-            else 
-                str = v.name
-            end
-        end
-    end
-    return str
-end
-
--- ===========================================
--- deletes all orgs except for the instance
-function modpol.orgs.reset()
-    for id, org in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
-        if id > 1 then
-            modpol.orgs.array[id] = nil
-        end
-    end
-end
-
--- ===================================================
--- initializes the instance (root org)
--- can only be run once, as only one instance can exist
-function modpol.orgs.init_instance()
-    local error_msg
-    if modpol.orgs.array[1] then
-        error_msg = 'Error: instance has already been initialized'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
-    end
-
-    local instance = {
-        id = 1,
-        name = "instance",
-        policies = {},
-        members = {},
-        ledger = {},
-        parent = nil,
-        children = {},
-        properties = {},
-        old_names = {}
-    }
-    setmetatable(instance, modpol.orgs)
-
-    -- adding instance to org list
-    modpol.orgs.array[1] = instance
-    return instance
-end
-
-
--- FUNCTIONS BEYOND HERE OPERATE ON ORG OBJECTS
-
--- =======================================================
--- records a log message to the modpol ledger
-function modpol.orgs:record(msg, entry_type)
-    local entry = {
-        timestamp = '',
-        entry_type = nil,
-        action_msg = '',
-        org_name = '',
-        org_id = nil,
-    }
-
-    if type(msg) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(msg)) then
-        entry.action_msg = msg
-    else
-        print('Error: msg must be a non empty string')
-        return false
-    end
-
-    if type(entry_type) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(entry_type)) then
-        entry.entry_type = entry_type
-    else
-        print('Error: entry_type must be a non empty string')
-        return false
-    end
-
-    entry.timestamp = os.time()
-    entry.org_id = self.id
-    entry.org_name = self.name
-
-    table.insert(modpol.ledger, entry)
-    modpol.store_data()
-end
-
--- ==================================================
--- adds a new sub org to the org it is called on
--- ex: instance:add_org('town hall')
-function modpol.orgs:add_org(name)
-    if self.id == nil then
-        error_msg = 'Error: add_org can only be called by another org'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
-    end
-
-    if modpol.ocutil.str_empty(name) then
-        error_msg = 'Error: org name is required'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
-    end
-
-    -- creating the child sub org
-    modpol.orgs.count = modpol.orgs.count + 1
-    local child_org = {
-        id = modpol.orgs.count,
-        name = name,
-        policies = {},
-        members = {},
-        parent = self.id,
-        children = {},
-    }
-    setmetatable(child_org, modpol.orgs)
-
-    -- adding child id to list of children
-    table.insert(self.children, child_org.id)
-    
-    -- adding child to org list
-    modpol.orgs.array[child_org.id] = child_org
-
-
-    return child_org
-end
-
--- ========================================
--- recursively deletes an org and its suborgs
--- leaves entry in modpol.orgs.array as a string "removed"
--- note: "reason" param was removed, can be added back
-function modpol.orgs:delete()
-    if self.id == 1 then
-        return false, 'Error: cannot delete instance'
-    end
-    
-    if #self.children > 0 then
-        for i, child_id in pairs(self.children) do
-            local child = modpol.orgs.get_org(child_id)
-            print(child_id, child)
-            child:delete()
-        end
-    end
-
-    modpol.orgs.array[self.id] = 'removed'
-    print('Removed ' .. self.name .. ': ' .. self.id)
-
-end
-
-
--- ===========================================
--- internal function to get the index of a member name
-function modpol.orgs:get_member_index(member)
-    for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
-        if v == member then
-            return k
-        end
-    end
-end
-
--- ===========================================
--- adds a user to an org
-function modpol.orgs:add_member(user)
-    -- trys to fill in empty spots first
-    empty_index = self:get_member_index('')
-    if empty_index then
-        self.members[empty_index] = user
-    else
-        -- adds to end if no empty spots
-        table.insert(self.members, user)
-    end
-end
-
--- =======================================
--- removes a user from an org
-function modpol.orgs:remove_member(user)
-    -- sets the array index to an empty string so that consecutive list is preserved
-    -- empty spots will get filled in by new members
-    user_index = self:get_member_index(user)
-    if user_index then
-        self.members[user_index] = ''
-    end
-end
-
--- ===========================================
--- boolean check whether user is an org
-function modpol.orgs:has_member(user)
-    user_index = self:get_member_index(user)
-    if user_index then
-        return true
-    else
-        return false
-    end
-end
-
--- ==================================
--- returns a list of users in an org
-function modpol.orgs:list_member()
-    local str
-    for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
-        if str then 
-            str = str .. '\n' .. v
-        else 
-            str = v
-        end
-    end
-    return str
-end
diff --git a/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua b/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
index 1d9efd8..bc78cd1 100644
--- a/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
+++ b/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
@@ -1,550 +1,233 @@
-
--- ===================================================================
--- /orgs.lua
--- Org-related functions for Modular Politics
--- Called by modpol/modpol/api.lua
--- ===================================================================
--- preserve records -- if true, will store org ledgers when they are closed, for later reference.
-local preserve_records = true
-
--- policies to be assigned to every org can go here
-modpol.default_org_policies = modpol.default_org_policies or {}
-
-
-
--- initiate the table of orgs, if it doesnt already exist from storage!
-modpol.orgs = modpol.orgs or {} 
-
-
-
-if preserve_records then
-   modpol.old_ledgers = modpol.old_ledgers or {} -- a backup of all legders of all closed orgs.
-end
-
-
--- this counter will increment every time a new org is created, and the current value will be used as the org id
--- we set it to 1 for init, and then run through all existing orgs and take only the greatest... which we then add 1 to.
--- this ensures a unique id for each org.
-modpol.id_counter = 1
-if #modpol.orgs > 0 then
-   for id,org in pairs(modpol.orgs) do
-      if id > modpol.id_counter then
-         modpol.id_counter = id
-      end
-      
-   end
-   for id,ledg in pairs(modpol.old_ledgers) do
-      if id > modpol.id_counter then
-         modpol.id_counter = id
-      end
-   end
-   modpol.id_counter = modpol.id_counter +1
-end
-         
-
-
-
---define the template of a ledger entry
-modpol.ledger_entry_temp = function()
-   
-   return {
-      timestamp = '',
-      entrytype = nil,
-      action_msg = '',
-      org_name = nil,
-      org_id = nil,
-   }
-
-end
-
-
--- define the basic template of an org.
-
-
-modpol.org_temp = function()
-
-   return {
-      id = nil,
-      name = nil,
-      policies = {},
-      members = {},
-      ledger = {},
-      parent = nil,
-      children = {},
-      properties = {},
-      old_names = {},
-   
-   }
-
-end
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.create_ledger_entry
--- Params: strings: action_msg,  type, number: org_id
--- Outputs:
--- returns a ledger entry table, with a timestamp
--- This function accepts a message and an optional org_id and type specification
--- and returns a valid ledger entry table
-
-modpol.create_ledger_entry = function(action_msg, org_id, entry_type)
-   local entry = modpol.ledger_entry_temp()
-   if action_msg and type(action_msg) == 'string' then
-      entry.action_msg = action_msg
-   end
-   if org_id and type(org_id) == 'number' and modpol.orgs [org_id] then
-      entry.org_id = org_id
-      if modpol.orgs[org_id].name then
-         entry.org_name = modpol.orgs[org_id].name
-      end
-   end
-   if entry_type and type(entry_type) == 'string' then
-      entry.entrytype = entry_type
-   end
-   entry.timestamp = os.time()
-   return entry
-end
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.record
--- Params: strings msg, type, number org_id
--- Outputs:
--- "msg" specifies an event and/or status message.
--- "org" specifies an "org" id.
--- "type" -- optional type of legder entry. Could be e.g. 'election_result', 'add_member', etc
--- This  function adds  the message to a  global ledger  and, if "org"
--- specifies a valid "org", to an "org"-specific ledger. Both the mem-
--- ory-resident and on-disk copies of the data structures used are up-
--- dated.
-
-modpol.record = function (org_id, msg, type)
-
-   local entry = modpol.create_ledger_entry(msg, org_id, type)
-                                -- Record in global ledger
-   table.insert (modpol.ledger, entry)
-                                -- Record in "org"-specific ledger
-
-
-   if modpol.orgs [org_id] ~= nil then
-
-      local org_ledger =  modpol.orgs [org_id]["ledger"]
-
-      if org_ledger == nil then
-
-         modpol.orgs [org_id]["ledger"] = { entry }
-         print("Warning: Org ".. org_id .. " did not have a ledger. This is an error.")
-
-      else
-
-         table.insert (org_ledger, entry)
-         modpol.orgs [org_id]["ledger"] = org_ledger
-
-      end
-    end
-
-    modpol.store_data()         -- Copy data to disk
-end
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.get_org_id_by_name(org_name)
--- Params:   org_name
-
--- Output: an org id or nil
---
-modpol.get_org_id_by_name = function(org_name)
-   local id = nil
-   for org_id,org in pairs(modpol.orgs) do
-      if org.name == org_name then
-         id = org_id
-      end
-   end
-   return id
-end
-
-
-
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.add_org
--- Params:   string name, table members, string parent, table properties
-
--- Output:
---
--- This function creates an "org".  It returns a boolean success indicator and
--- either an error message starting with "Error:" or a success message.
---
--- The string parameter specifies the "org" name.
---
--- The members table should  be an  integer-indexed array of member
--- names.
-
--- parent should be nil or a valid existing org name. If nil, defaults to 
--- 'instance'
-
--- properties defaults to an empty table. Use it to initialize the org 
--- with arbitrary properties
-
-modpol.add_org = function(org_name, members, parent_id, properties)
-
-   local str
-
-   if modpol.ocutil.str_empty (org_name) then
-      return false,"Error: Org needs a name"
-   end
-
-   if parent_id and not modpol.orgs[parent_id] then 
-   return false,"Error: Parent_id must be a valid existing org id"
-   end
-
-   if properties and not type(properties) == 'table' then
-   return false,"Error: Properties must be a table"
-   end
-   
-
-   modpol.ocutil.log ("Attempting to add new org " .. org_name)
-   
-   if modpol.get_org_id_by_name(org_name) ~= nil then
-      str = "Error: Org " .. org_name .. " already exists"
-      modpol.ocutil.log (str)
-      return false,str
-   end
-
-   -- assign a new id to the new org
-   local org_id = modpol.id_counter
-   modpol.id_counter = modpol.id_counter + 1
-
-
-   -- the instance will have a parent of nil if it is the instance. 
-   -- otherwise, it will have a parent of instance's id if not otherwise defined
-
-   local parent_org_id = nil
-   
-   local instance_id = modpol.get_org_id_by_name('instance')
-
-   if parent_id and instance_id and not(instance_id == org_id) then
-      parent_org_id = parent_id
-   end
-
-   if not parent_id and instance_id and not ( instance_id == org_id ) then
-      parent_org_id = modpol.get_org_id_by_name ( 'instance' )
-   end
-
-
-
-
-   -- actually add the org
-   local org = modpol.org_temp()
-   local default_policies = modpol.default_org_policies or {}
-   org.id = org_id
-   org.name = org_name -- do not change this without the proper api function. This is only a reference, not the only place this is recorded.
-   org.members = members
-   org.parent = parent_org_id
-   org.properties = properties or org.properties
-   org.policies = default_policies
-   org.children = {}
-
-   modpol.orgs [org_id] = org
-
-   --record the child org in the parent's children table
-   if parent_org_id then
-
-      if modpol.orgs[parent_org_id].children then
-         table.insert(modpol.orgs[parent_org_id].children, org_id)
-      else
-         modpol.orgs[parent_org_id].children = {org_id}
-      end
-   end
-
-   local parent_id_str = "none"
-   if parent_org_id then
-      parent_id_str = tostring(parent_org_id)
-   end
-
-   local msg = "New org: " .. org_name .. " ["..org_id.."], parent =  ".. parent_id_str ..", members = "..
-      " (" .. table.concat (members, ", ") .. ")"
-
-   modpol.record (org_id, msg, 'org_init')
-   return true, msg
-end
-
-
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.remove_org
--- Params:   number id, opt string reason
--- Output:
---
--- This function removes an "org".  It returns a boolean
--- success indicator and either an error message
--- starting with "Error:" or a success message. It also recursively 
--- removes all child orgs, with 'remove parent org' as reason. If 
--- preserve_records is enabled, it logs the removal in the org ledger,
--- and stores the ledger in modpol.old_ledgers
-
-
--- The number parameter specifies the "org" id.
---
--- The reason is an optional string to additionally include in the 
--- log as reason for removal
-
-modpol.remove_org = function (org_id, reason)
-   local str
-   if not reason then reason = '' end
-   if not type(org_id) == 'number' or not modpol.orgs[org_id] then
-      str = "Error: Specify an existing org id to remove"
-      modpol.ocutil.log (str)
-      return false,str
-   end
-   local org_name = modpol.orgs[org_id]
-   if org_name == 'instance' then
-      return false,"Error: You cannot remove instance"
-   end
-
-   --log msg
-   local msg = 'Removing org '..org_name ..' ['..org_id..'], reason: '.. reason
-
-   modpol.ocutil.log (msg)
-
-      
-   -- actually remove the org
-
-   -- TODO: if callbacks are implemented, do so here --
-
-   if preserve_records then
-      modpol.old_ledgers[org_id] = modpol.orgs[org_id].ledger
-   end
-
-   -- also remove all children
-   if modpol.orgs[org_id].children and #modpol.orgs[org_id].children > 0 then
-      for _,child_name in pairs(modpol.orgs[org_id].children) do
-         --this is recursion. If it gets to be a problem, we will need a separate function      
-         modpol.remove_org(child_name, 'remove parent org') 
-      end
-   end
-
-   --also remove references to this org in parent orgs
-   if modpol.orgs[org_id].parent then
-      local parent_id = modpol.orgs[org_id].parent
-      modpol.orgs[parent_id].children[org_id] = nil
-   end
-
-   modpol.orgs[org_id] = nil
-
-   modpol.record (org_id, msg, 'org_remove')
-
-  
-  return true,msg
-
-end
-
-
-
-
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.list_orgs
--- Params:   None
--- Output:
--- This function returns a text-format list of "orgs".  The list shows
--- one "org" per line in the following format:
--- org_name (member, member, ...)
--- If there are no "orgs", the output is an empty string.
-
-modpol.list_orgs  = function()
-    local outbuf = ""
-    local str
-    for org_id, org_data in pairs (modpol.orgs) do
-                                -- Process next "org"
-                                -- Build string version of member list
-        local memcat = org_data ["members"]
-        local org_name = org_data ["name"].."["..org_id.."]"
-        if  modpol.ocutil.str_empty (memcat) then
-              memcat = "(empty)"
-        else
-              memcat = "(" .. table.concat (memcat, ", ") .. ")"
+modpol.orgs = 
+{
+    count = 1,
+    array = {}
+}
+
+-- sets modpol.orgs as it's own fallback
+modpol.orgs.__index = modpol.orgs
+
+-- ==================================================
+-- returns org when given its id or name
+function modpol.orgs.get_org(id)
+    if type(id) == 'string' then
+        for id, org in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
+            if org.name == id then
+                return org
+            end
         end
-                                -- Build output string
-        outbuf = outbuf .. org_name .. " " .. memcat .. "\n"
+    elseif type(id) == 'number' then
+        return modpol.orgs.array[id]
     end
-    return outbuf
 end
 
-
-
-
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.reset_orgs
--- Params:   None
--- Removes all orgs and recreates blank org "instance" with all
--- current users
--- returns confirmation message
-
-modpol.reset_orgs = function()
-   local users = modpol.list_users()
-   --store the ledgers in modpol.old_ledgers, and note that each org was closed in each record.
-   if preserve_records then
-      for id, org in pairs(modpol.orgs) do
-         local old_ledger = org.ledger
-         local entry = modpol.create_ledger_entry('Removing org '.. id, id, 'org_purge')
-
-         if old_ledger == nil then
-            old_ledger = { entry }
-         else
-            table.insert(old_ledger, entry)
-         end
-         modpol.old_ledgers[id] = old_ledger
-      end
-   end
-   modpol.orgs = {}
-   local message = "Orgs purged"
-   modpol.record(nil, message, 'org_purge')
-   modpol.add_org("instance", users)
-   return message
-end
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.add_member
--- Params: org_id (number), member (string)
--- Output:
--- Adds the specified member to the specified org
--- Returns a boolean success indicator and
--- either a confirmation or error message
-
-
--- TODO, check that member is a user, if the org_name is not instance
-
-modpol.add_member = function(org_id, member)
-   
-   if (modpol.orgs[org_id] == nil) then
-      return false,"Error: No such org"
-   elseif type(member) ~= 'string' then
-      return false,"Error: member is wrong type"
-   else
-      local org_name = modpol.orgs [org_id].name
-      if modpol.is_member(org_id,member) then
-         return false,"Error: " .. member .. " is already a member of " .. org_name
-      else
-         table.insert(modpol.orgs[org_id]["members"], member)
-         local message = member .. " added to org " .. org_name .. " ["..org_id.."]"
-         modpol.record(org_id, message, 'add_member')
-         return true,message
-      end
-   end
-end
-
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.is_member
--- Params: org (number), member (string)
--- Output: Boolean depending on membership or nil/error message
-
-modpol.is_member = function(org, member)
-   if (modpol.orgs[org] == nil) then
-      return nil, "Error: No such org"
-   else
-      local member_table = modpol.orgs[org]["members"]
-      if member_table then
-         for index, value in pairs(member_table) do
-            if value == member then
-               -- match found
-               return true
+-- ===============================================
+-- returns a string list of all orgs
+function modpol.orgs.list_all()
+    local str
+    for k, v in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
+        if type(v) == 'table' then
+            if str then 
+                str = str .. '\n' .. v.name
+            else 
+                str = v.name
             end
-         end
-         -- no match found
-         return false
-      end
-      return false      
-   end
+        end
+    end
+    return str
 end
 
--- ===================================================================
--- Function: modpol.remove_member
--- Params: org (number), member (string)
--- Output:
--- Removes the specified member from the specified org
--- Returns confirmation or error message
-
-function modpol.remove_member(org, member)
-   local message = "Error: No such org"
-   if (modpol.orgs[org] == nil) then
-      return false, message
-   else
-      local member_table = modpol.orgs[org]["members"]
-      if member_table then
-         for index, value in pairs(member_table) do
-            if value == member then
-               -- match found, set to nil
-               
-               modpol.orgs[org]["members"][value] = nil  
-               
-               -- TODO: add callbacks here, for such as revoking privs, etc --
-
-               message = member .. " removed from org " .. org
-               modpol.record(org, message, 'remove_member')
-               return true, message
-            end
-         end
-      end
-      -- no match found (or org has no members)
-      message = member .. " not found in org " .. org
-      return false, message
-   end
+-- ===========================================
+-- deletes all orgs except for the instance
+function modpol.orgs.reset()
+    for id, org in ipairs(modpol.orgs.array) do
+        if id > 1 then
+            modpol.orgs.array[id] = nil
+        end
+    end
 end
 
--- ===================================================================
--- TKTK
--- rename_org(old_name, new_name)
--- Renames an org 
+-- ===================================================
+-- initializes the instance (root org)
+-- can only be run once, as only one instance can exist
+function modpol.orgs.init_instance()
+    local error_msg
+    if modpol.orgs.array[1] then
+        error_msg = 'Error: instance has already been initialized'
+        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
+        return false, error_msg
+    end
 
+    local instance = {
+        id = 1,
+        name = "instance",
+        policies = {},
+        members = {},
+        ledger = {},
+        parent = nil,
+        children = {},
+        properties = {},
+        old_names = {}
+    }
+    setmetatable(instance, modpol.orgs)
 
-   
-
-
-
-
-
--- ===================================================================
--- POLICIES
--- Each policy is a table with a string for a key. Contents:
--- KEY - name of the policy (string)
--- [member orgs]: external orgs allowed to call policy
--- [function]: the function that initiates the policy
--- ===================================================================
-
--- ===================================================================
--- modpol.add_policy
--- Adds a policy to an org's [org].policies table
--- Params: org_name (string),
--- policy_name (string),
--- policy_table (table)
--- Output: true if successful, nil if error
-
--- TKTK NEEDS TO BE REWRITTEN
-
-modpol.add_policy = function(org_name, policy_name, policy_table)
-   -- first, basic checks
-   local message = "Error: No such org"
-   if (modpol.orgs[org_name] == nil) then
-      return nil, message
-   elseif (modpol[target_function] == nil) then
-      message = "Error: No such target function"
-      return nil, message
-   elseif (modpol[policy_function]) then
-      message = "Error: No such policy function"
-      return nil, message
-   else
-      -- okay, proceed
-      modpol.orgs[org_name].policies[target_function] = policy_function
-      message = "In org " .. org_name .. ", policy for " .. target_function
-         .. " set to " .. policy_function
-      record(org_name, message)
-      return true, message
-   end
+    -- adding instance to org list
+    modpol.orgs.array[1] = instance
+    return instance
 end
 
--- ===================================================================
--- End of file.
+
+-- FUNCTIONS BEYOND HERE OPERATE ON ORG OBJECTS
+
+-- =======================================================
+-- records a log message to the modpol ledger
+function modpol.orgs:record(msg, entry_type)
+    local entry = {
+        timestamp = '',
+        entry_type = nil,
+        action_msg = '',
+        org_name = '',
+        org_id = nil,
+    }
+
+    if type(msg) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(msg)) then
+        entry.action_msg = msg
+    else
+        print('Error: msg must be a non empty string')
+        return false
+    end
+
+    if type(entry_type) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(entry_type)) then
+        entry.entry_type = entry_type
+    else
+        print('Error: entry_type must be a non empty string')
+        return false
+    end
+
+    entry.timestamp = os.time()
+    entry.org_id = self.id
+    entry.org_name = self.name
+
+    table.insert(modpol.ledger, entry)
+    modpol.store_data()
+end
+
+-- ==================================================
+-- adds a new sub org to the org it is called on
+-- ex: instance:add_org('town hall')
+function modpol.orgs:add_org(name)
+    if self.id == nil then
+        error_msg = 'Error: add_org can only be called by another org'
+        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
+        return false, error_msg
+    end
+
+    if modpol.ocutil.str_empty(name) then
+        error_msg = 'Error: org name is required'
+        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
+        return false, error_msg
+    end
+
+    -- creating the child sub org
+    modpol.orgs.count = modpol.orgs.count + 1
+    local child_org = {
+        id = modpol.orgs.count,
+        name = name,
+        policies = {},
+        members = {},
+        parent = self.id,
+        children = {},
+    }
+    setmetatable(child_org, modpol.orgs)
+
+    -- adding child id to list of children
+    table.insert(self.children, child_org.id)
+    
+    -- adding child to org list
+    modpol.orgs.array[child_org.id] = child_org
+
+
+    return child_org
+end
+
+-- ========================================
+-- recursively deletes an org and its suborgs
+-- leaves entry in modpol.orgs.array as a string "removed"
+-- note: "reason" param was removed, can be added back
+function modpol.orgs:delete()
+    if self.id == 1 then
+        return false, 'Error: cannot delete instance'
+    end
+    
+    if #self.children > 0 then
+        for i, child_id in pairs(self.children) do
+            local child = modpol.orgs.get_org(child_id)
+            print(child_id, child)
+            child:delete()
+        end
+    end
+
+    modpol.orgs.array[self.id] = 'removed'
+    print('Removed ' .. self.name .. ': ' .. self.id)
+
+end
+
+
+-- ===========================================
+-- internal function to get the index of a member name
+function modpol.orgs:get_member_index(member)
+    for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
+        if v == member then
+            return k
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+-- ===========================================
+-- adds a user to an org
+function modpol.orgs:add_member(user)
+    -- trys to fill in empty spots first
+    empty_index = self:get_member_index('')
+    if empty_index then
+        self.members[empty_index] = user
+    else
+        -- adds to end if no empty spots
+        table.insert(self.members, user)
+    end
+end
+
+-- =======================================
+-- removes a user from an org
+function modpol.orgs:remove_member(user)
+    -- sets the array index to an empty string so that consecutive list is preserved
+    -- empty spots will get filled in by new members
+    user_index = self:get_member_index(user)
+    if user_index then
+        self.members[user_index] = ''
+    end
+end
+
+-- ===========================================
+-- boolean check whether user is an org
+function modpol.orgs:has_member(user)
+    user_index = self:get_member_index(user)
+    if user_index then
+        return true
+    else
+        return false
+    end
+end
+
+-- ==================================
+-- returns a list of users in an org
+function modpol.orgs:list_member()
+    local str
+    for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
+        if str then 
+            str = str .. '\n' .. v
+        else 
+            str = v
+        end
+    end
+    return str
+end