Governance
Governed by its members, in the open.
A professional association should answer to the professionals it serves. This page sets out how USCLI will be governed once membership opens, and how it is run until then.
Today: founding phase
USCLI has no members yet, so there are no elections, votes, or committees to report. Until membership opens, the organization is run by its founders, who commit to the following:
- No dues, donations, or payments of any kind will be accepted until the membership terms are published.
- This governance model, and the Code of Conduct, are published for comment before they are adopted.
- The first board election will be held once there are enough members to make it meaningful, with candidates from more than one discipline.
Principles
One member, one vote
Every member has equal voting power, regardless of rank, discipline, or the date they joined. Founding status brings recognition, not extra votes.
Anonymous ballots
Members vote their conscience without pressure from employers, superiors, or each other.
Decisions in the open
Proposals, final tallies, and the reasons for board decisions are published. No closed-door policy changes.
No discipline dominates
Committees are drawn from across the disciplines, and members recuse themselves where they have a conflict.
How a decision will be made
- 1 · Proposal
Any member can propose
Policy changes, initiatives, and nominations can come from any member, followed by a seven-day comment period.
- 2 · Vote
Members decide
A fourteen-day voting window, by anonymous ballot, one vote per member.
- 3 · Ratification
The board acts on the result
Proposals that pass by majority are ratified by the board and become policy.
- 4 · Record
Permanent public record
Every decision is archived with its vote totals.
Planned structure
Board of directors
Elected by the members, responsible for strategy, budget, and ratifying member decisions.
Ethics Committee
Interprets and enforces the Code of Conduct, with members from several disciplines serving fixed terms.
Standards and education committees
Oversee the accuracy of everything USCLI publishes, and the quality of any professional development it offers.
Want to help build one of these? Write to contact@uscli.org.