| The specific anatomy of the organisation. Details of ownership, voting rights, leadership, methods and methods of deliberations, decisions and acts. The contract of rights and obligations between all members of the community. The details of the embodiment of purpose and principles, usually in the form of a charter and constitution or certificate of incorporation and by-laws. |
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- For the community: An embodiment of the most deeply held common values, defining freedoms yet enabling common cause.
- For the individual: The rules and relationships within which to exercise initiative and pursue things of values and meaning.
- The sound and binding legal framework for self-organizing, self-governing evolution of the organization.
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- Establishes organization as a legal entity in appropriate jurisdiction.
- Articulates rights and responsibilities of participants.
- Establishes initial governance bodies.
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- Elegant and precise.
- Powerful reflection of principles and concept.
- Provides clear and understandable starting point for interactions, capable of ongoing evolution.
- Things that should be hard to change are hard to change; and things that should be easy to change are easy to change.
- Provides sufficient "last resort" language (though hopefully never used).
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- Full of "legalese."
- Too much power rests with central boards or bodies.
- Simplistic. Many elements have to be revised or thought through before effective activity can begin.
- Violate principles.
- Includes much conventional corporate "boilerplate."
- Diverges markedly from concept.
- Writes specific practices into by-laws.
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- What are we currently doing that we want to do better, more effectively or more efficiently?
- What opportunities do we envision that we cannot currently pursue?
- What kinds of innovative Practices or activities are required by current or emerging trends in our community, field or industry?
- What critical functions are necessary to ensure organizational coherence while fostering self-organization on the part of participants?
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