diff --git a/modpol/api.lua b/modpol/api.lua
index c44cf88..b5092de 100644
--- a/modpol/api.lua
+++ b/modpol/api.lua
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ local localdir = modpol.topdir
 dofile (localdir .. "/users/users.lua")
 
 --orgs
-dofile (localdir .. "/orgs/orgs.lua")
+dofile (localdir .. "/orgs/new_orgs.lua")
 
 --interactions
 dofile (localdir .. "/interactions/interactions.lua")
 
 -- messaging functions
-dofile (localdir .. "/processes/processes.lua")
+dofile (localdir .. "/processes/processes.lua")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modpol/modpol.lua b/modpol/modpol.lua
index fbdae77..e7c7e70 100644
--- a/modpol/modpol.lua
+++ b/modpol/modpol.lua
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ dofile (topdir .. "/api.lua")
 -- Final checks
 
 -- create instance if not present
-if not modpol.get_org_id_by_name('instance') then
-   modpol.add_org("instance", modpol.list_users())
-end
+-- if not modpol.get_org_id_by_name('instance') then
+--    modpol.add_org("instance", modpol.list_users())
+-- end
 
 modpol.ocutil.log ("modpol loaded")
 
diff --git a/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua b/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..586f656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modpol/orgs/new_orgs.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+modpol.orgs = 
+{
+    count = 1,
+    list = {}
+}
+
+-- sets modpol.orgs as it's own fallback
+modpol.orgs.__index = modpol.orgs
+
+-- ==================================================
+-- returns org when given its id
+function modpol.orgs.get_org(id)
+    return modpol.orgs.list[id]
+end
+
+-- ===============================================
+-- returns a string list of all orgs
+function modpol.orgs.list_orgs()
+    local str
+    for k, v in ipairs(modpol.orgs.list) 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 k, v in ipairs(modpol.orgs.list) do
+        if k > 1 then
+            modpol.orgs.list[k] = 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.list[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.list[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.list[child_org.id] = child_org
+
+
+    return child_org
+end
+
+-- ========================================
+-- recursively deletes an org and its suborgs
+-- leaves entry in modpol.orgs.list 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.list[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