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 [[2. Structure/Roles/Steward|Steward]]s | 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 [[3. Protocols/Asset Protocols/Treasury Management Protocol|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 [[3. Protocols/Role Protocols/Steward Protocol|Steward Protocol]]) - Removal for cause handled through [[3. Protocols/Cultural Protocols/Conflict Transformation Protocol|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 - [[3. Protocols/Role Protocols/Steward Protocol|Steward Protocol]] — Individual Steward expectations - [[Decision-Making Protocol]] — Decision methods - [[3. Protocols/Asset Protocols/Treasury Management Protocol|Treasury Management Protocol]] — Financial operations - [[Alliance Assembly Protocol]] — Relationship with Assembly