Political Council

The Political Board was created as a result of a new Pirate Party Constitution that was accepted on December 18th, 2011. This page will serve as an entry-page to board agendas, minutes, transcripts, vote logs, developed protocols and procedures. It will also contain any relevant sections of the constitution that govern the election & duties of the Policital Council.

Federal Council
Prior to Dec 19, 2011, the PPCA was governed by the Federal Council. Past terms & positions are included here as reference.

Agendas, Minutes & Transcripts

 * See all Political Council Minutes

Policies and Protocols

 * Adopted motions and rules currently in effect.

PPCA Constitution
Please find below the relevant sections of the new PPCA Constitution that establish the duties and operations of the political council, as well as the relevant provisios determining initial meetings and members.

VII.1 Composition
The Political Council shall be chaired by the Leader. Its members, including the Leader and the Deputy Leader, shall be chosen by election and serve until their successors are elected. There is no maximum number of members of the Council, although it must have at least five. The election must take place by all-party ballot. Members of the Political Council must be members of the Party.

VII.2 Elections Generally
Elections for the Political Council may be held only when authorized by this document. An election shall occur for the Political Council at the second regular general meeting following each federal general election. An election shall also occur at the regular general meeting in November unless an election was held during or after May of that year, or is scheduled to be held before the end of that year. Elections may be called by the Political Council with a two-thirds vote, or by a general meeting with a two-thirds vote taken by all-party ballot with notice.

A candidate may decline the offices of Leader or Deputy Leader together before or immediately after being informed of the result. A candidate may not decline the office of Leader without also declining the office of Deputy Leader. Declining office does not affect whether or not the candidate can be elected to the Political Council in another capacity.

Approval voting shall be used, and only nominees shall be eligible for election. To determine the winners, first, every candidate with less than two-fifths support is removed from consideration and cannot be selected, the rest of this paragraph notwithstanding. Then, if the Leader received at least three-fifths support and does not decline offce, he or she is re-elected. Otherwise, the candidate with the most support who does not decline offce is elected Leader. The candidate other than the newly-elected Leader with the most support who does not decline offce is elected Deputy Leader. Every other candidate with at least three-fifths support is elected to the Political Council, and if this results in fewer than five members of the Political Council, then as many other candidates as are necessary to bring the total to five are also elected, preferring candidates in order of support.

Candidates are individually responsible for complying with the financial administration requirements for leadership contestants set out in the Canada Elections Act.

VII.3 Vacancies
In case of a vacancy in the offce of Leader, the Deputy Leader shall succeed the Leader automat- ically. In case of a vacancy in the offce of Deputy Leader, a replacement shall be elected by and from the Political Council. In case of a vacancy in both offices, replacements shall be elected by and from the Political Council.

If ever there are fewer than five members of Political Council except immediately after an election or by-election, then a by-election shall be held to find additional members. Current members of Poliical Council shall not be affected by or be candidates in this by-election. In particular, the Leader and Deputy Leader shall retain office. A by-election may additionally be called by the Political Council with a two-thirds vote. If, immediately after an election or by-election, there are still fewer than five members, then Political Council shall appoint additional members until there are five.

VII.4 Powers & Duties
The Political Council is a board responsible for the general public interface of the Party. The Political Council has the power and authority to speak on behalf of the Party, to set out Party policy, and to approve external communications. The Political Council's actions are subject to change by, and shall not conflict with decisions of a general meeting.

The Political Council has the power to delegate its authority to the Executive Board as well as to members and committees of the Party, the Executive Board, and/or the Political Council as it sees fit. The Political Council has the power to adopt its own special rules of order.

VII.5 Meetings
The Political Council shall regularly meet at least biweekly at a time and place fixed by special rule of order of the Council. Special meetings may be called with two days notice by the Leader or by any three members of the Council.

A.3 Political Council Meetings
The following will be enacted as a special rule of order of the Political Council: "The Political Council shall meet weekly at 9:30 PM Eastern time each Thursday in the #council channel on irc://irc.pirateparty.ca/ ."

A.4 Selection of Officers
Sean Hunt shall become President, Shawn Vulliez shall become Vice-President, and Ric Lim shall become Secretary, with term to the election of their successors. Elections for these offices shall be held at the first opportunity.

Mikkel Paulson shall remain Leader of the Party and Shawn Gray shall become Deputy Leader. The members of the old Federal Council shall become the new Political Council. An election of the Political Board shall be held at the first opportunity after the remaining offcers are elected.

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