Organizational Rules & Guidelines

1. Introduction

This document outlines the organizational structure, election processes, and rules for LEAGUE7 governance. This league is built on the principles of transparency, fairness, and community involvement. This document aims to clearly explain every aspect of our operations to ensure all participants have a thorough understanding of how the league functions.

2. Organizational Structure

2.1 Founder

Role: Responsible solely for maintaining systems integrity and final conflict resolution

Responsibilities:

Ensures proper application of election rules
Maintains the technical infrastructure of the league
Oversees voting processes
Serves as the final arbiter in unresolved conflict

Limitations: The founder's role is strictly limited to system integrity and conflict resolution, and does not extend to regular league operations or game-related decisions. They are ineligible to participate in league games.

2.2 President

Selection: Elected by community vote before season start (see Section 4.1 for details)

Responsibilities:

Oversees staff integrity and league operations
Appoints moderators to handle community issues and tickets
Ensures fair play and adherence to league guidelines

Limitations:

Cannot unilaterally change game rules or league structure
Can participate in league games under strict conditions (see Section 8.3)
Cannot be on the same team as any of the appointed staff members (see Section 2.3)

Conflict Resolution:

In cases where the President would normally be involved in conflict resolution but is unable to due to their participation in games, the Founder will assume this responsibility
The Captains' Council will have increased oversight responsibilities to ensure fairness

Transparency:

All decisions made by the President that could affect game outcomes must be publicly documented and justified
The President must declare any potential conflicts of interest related to their participation in the league

2.3 Staff Members

Number: Five staff members (number subject to change depending on participant numbers)

Selection: Two appointed by the president (thereafter referred to as "appointed staff members") each season start

Responsibilities:

Create and enforce game rules
Submit rule change proposals for Captains' Council voting
Ensure all games are played according to current rules
Issue warnings or bans as per the code of conduct

Limitations:

Can participate in league games under strict conditions (see Section 8.2)
Cannot unilaterally implement rule changes without Captains' Council approval

2.3.1 Staff-Captain Dual Role

Staff members are permitted to serve as team captains
When serving in both roles:
Their voting rights are exclusively as a captain
They cannot submit rule proposals directly affecting their team
They must declare their dual role status in any staff discussions affecting teams

2.4 Moderators

Selection: Chosen by the president based on experience, fairness, and commitment to the league

Responsibilities:

Enforce Discord rules and community guidelines
Handle and respond to user-submitted tickets through the designated system
Manage day-to-day community interactions
Issue warnings or bans as per the code of conduct

Limitations:

Do not have authority over game rules or league structure
Cannot participate in staff decisions regarding rule changes

2.5 Captains Council

Composition: Participating teams' captains

Role: Work alongside the staff to provide checks and balances, address conduct-related issues

Responsibilities:

Approve key staff decisions by majority vote
Provide advice and guidance on league operations
Serve as a bridge between the community and leadership
Investigate conduct-related issues
Provide recommendations for resolving complex issues

Transparency:

All Captains' Council channels will be open for community observation
Meeting summaries and voting records will be made publicly available

2.6 Broadcasting Team

Composition: Head of Broadcasting Team and Broadcasting Team Members

Selection:

Head of Broadcasting Team is appointed by the President
Broadcasting Team Members are selected by the Head of Broadcasting Team in consultation with Staff
Team size varies based on league needs and volunteer availability

Head of Broadcasting Team Responsibilities:

Oversee all official LEAGUE7 broadcast operations and content creation
Manage Broadcasting Team members and assign broadcast coverage
Make final decisions on broadcast scheduling and match selection priorities
Handle broadcast-related appeals and content removal requests
Coordinate with Staff on broadcasting policies and technical requirements
Ensure compliance with Broadcasting Guidelines across all team activities

Broadcasting Team Member Responsibilities:

Provide live commentary and analysis for assigned matches
Operate streaming equipment and manage technical broadcast setup
Create post-match content including highlights, recaps, and statistical analysis
Conduct player interviews and produce studio content
Support community event broadcasting when available
Maintain professional conduct standards during all broadcast activities

Limitations and Oversight:

Broadcasting Team decisions regarding match coverage are operational and do not require Captains' Council approval
Content removal requests and conduct violations follow the appeal process outlined in Section 6.3
Broadcasting Team members may participate in league games under the same conditions as other Staff (see Section 8.2)
The Head of Broadcasting Team reports to Staff and President on broadcasting operations
Major changes to broadcasting policies require Staff approval and follow standard rule change procedures

Transparency:

Broadcasting Team meeting notes and coverage decisions will be documented in designated channels
Community feedback on broadcast quality and coverage is welcomed through established channels
Broadcasting schedules and coverage announcements will be made publicly available

3. League Operations

3.1 League Commencement

Minimum Requirement: The league will officially begin when at least 7 teams have registered to participate

Process:

Team registration will open at a designated time announced by the president
Once 7 or more teams have registered, a league start date will be set
If fewer than 7 teams register by the deadline, see Section 8.1 for pre-season exhibition period details

3.2 Rule Changes

Proposal:

Only staff members can submit proposed rule changes
Proposals must be submitted in the #rule-proposals channel
Each proposal must clearly state the current rule (if applicable) and the proposed change

Classification of Changes:

Minor changes: Operational adjustments or small rule tweaks that don't significantly alter gameplay or league structure
Major changes: Substantial alterations to gameplay, league structure, or policies that could significantly impact participants

Voting:

All rule changes undergo Captains' Council voting (see Section 5 for voting process)
A 2/3 supermajority is required for a rule change to pass

Implementation:

Approved changes are announced in the #announcements channel
Staff members are responsible for updating all relevant documentation
Staff will enforce new rules starting from the announced effective date

3.3 Fast-Track Changes

Purpose: Address urgent issues quickly

Process:

Can be proposed by staff or the captains' council
Requires approval from both the president and the captains' council
Passes with a simple majority Captains' Council vote
Includes a 2-weeks sunset clause, after which it must be re-approved

4. Election and Selection Processes

4.1 Presidential Election

Timing: Held after season conclusion

Eligibility:

Candidates must have been active in the community for at least 3 months
Candidates must be in good standing with no rule violations in the past 3 months

Nomination Process:

Nominations open a week before the election
Community members can nominate themselves or others in the #election-discussion channel

Voting Process:

Voting will be conducted by the Founder to ensure security and fairness
The process will be as follows: 1. A #presidential-election channel will be created 2. Founder will post a message with the candidates as voting options 3. Community members will cast their votes by reacting to the message with the corresponding emojis, or buttons 4. Founder will announce the results when the voting period ends
The voting period will last minimum of 48 hours
Results will be publicly announced in the appropriate channels immediately after the voting period ends

Term Limits: Presidents are limited to serve for a season but can be re-elected for the next.

4.2 Staff Selection

Timing:

The process begins immediately after presidential election results
The entire selection process must be completed within 2 weeks of its commencement

Process:

The elected president (if they wish) will announce the opening of staff applications
Interested members will submit applications detailing their qualifications and vision for the league
The president will review applications and may conduct interviews if needed
2 staff members will be chosen by the president (see Section 4.5 for staff continuity) based on experience, fairness, and commitment to the league
The entire selection process must be concluded within the 3-week time limit

Announcement:

Selected staff members will be announced in the appropriate channels
Each staff member's role and responsibilities will be clearly outlined

Term Limits: Staff members serve two seasons but can be re-assigned.

4.3 Moderator Selection

Mixed System:

Moderators are appointed by the current president, staff, and founder as required
Numbers are subject to change depending on the league density

4.4 Unexpected Presidential Departure

In the event that the president leaves before their season is complete:

The Staff will immediately assume temporary leadership of the league.
Within 48 hours, they will announce a special election to be held within two weeks.
The election process will follow the standard presidential election procedures (see Section 4.1) with candidates from current Staff (if they wish).
The newly elected president will serve the remainder of the original term.
If less than 2 weeks remain in the season, the staff will manage the league until the next scheduled election.

4.5 Presidential Transition and Staff Continuity

In the event of a new president being elected while appointed staff members are still serving their terms:

Continuity Period: - Appointed staff members will continue in their roles for a minimum of 2 weeks after the new president takes office. - This period allows for knowledge transfer and operational continuity.
Review and Confirmation: - During the continuity period, the new president will review the performance and fit of the appointed staff members. - By the end of the two weeks period, the new president must either:
- a) Confirm the continuation of the appointed staff for the remainder of the season, or,
- b) Nominate new staff members to replace them.
Replacement Process: - If the new president chooses to nominate new staff members:
- a) The nominations must be approved by a simple majority vote of the Captains' Council.
- b) If approved, the new staff members will serve for the remainder of the season.
- c) If not approved, the original staff members will continue in their roles, and the president may not attempt to replace them again during that term.
End of Staff Terms: - At the end of each season, the current president (whether new or continuing) will have the opportunity to appoint or reappoint staff members for the 2 appointed positions.
Exceptional Circumstances: - In cases of staff misconduct or inability to perform duties, the normal disciplinary and removal processes as outlined in the main guidelines will take precedence over this policy. - Numbers may change depending on the requirement

5. Rule Voting Procedure

5.1 Proposal Submission

Eligibility:

Only staff members can submit rule change proposals
Staff members who are also captains cannot submit proposals that:
Directly affect their team's standing
Modify rules specifically relevant to their team's strategy
Create potential competitive advantages for their team
When a staff-captain wishes to suggest such changes, they must:
Present the idea to another staff member
Have that staff member formally submit the proposal
Participate in the subsequent discussion only as a captain

Process:

Proposals must be submitted in the #rule-proposals channel
Each proposal must include:
The current rule (if applicable)
The proposed change
Rationale for the change
Proposals require seconding by two other staff members and at least two members of Captain's Council to be considered for voting

5.2 Captains' Council Voting

Timing: Voting will open within 48 hours of a proposal being seconded

Process:

Voting will be conducted and overseen by President to ensure security and fairness
The voting process will be as follows: 1. A #rule-vote channel will be created for Captains' Council members 2. President will post a message with the proposed rule change and voting options (Yes/No) 3. Captains will cast their votes by reacting to the message, or by using the buttons 4. President will announce the results when the voting period ends
The voting period will last 48 hours
A 2/3 supermajority is required for the rule change to pass
Results will be publicly announced in the #rule-vote-results channel immediately after the voting period ends

Transparency:

The #rule-vote channel will be open for community observation
Captains' Council members can discuss the proposal in their channel before voting

6. Code of Conduct

6.1 Community Expectations

Respect: All members must treat each other with respect at all times

Sportsmanship: Positive sportsmanship is required in all league activities

Prohibited Behavior:

Zero tolerance for hate speech, discrimination, or harassment
Cheating is strictly forbidden
Intentional disruption of league activities is not allowed
During league matches, using chat outside of quick-chat options is forbidden

6.2 Enforcement

Authority:

Moderators have the authority to enforce the code of conduct in community spaces (e.g., Discord, Twitch chat).
Staff members are responsible for enforcing rules related to gameplay and in-game behavior.

Actions:

Moderators may issue warnings for minor infractions in community spaces.
Temporary bans may be issued for repeated minor infractions or single serious infractions in community spaces.
Permanent bans may be issued with President's approval for severe violations or repeated serious infractions in community spaces.
Staff will manage and enforce rules related to in-game exploits and gameplay violations.

In-Game Violations:

Staff members will investigate reports of in-game exploits or rule violations.
Penalties for in-game violations may include warnings, match forfeits, temporary suspensions, or permanent bans from league play, depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.
Any appeals for in-game violation penalties will be reviewed by the Captains' Council.

6.3 Conflict Resolution

Process:

Parties attempt to resolve the issue directly
If unresolved, the issue is brought to the Captains' Council
Captains' Council mediates and provides a recommendation
If still unresolved, the issue is escalated to Staff for a decision
If further escalation is needed, the issue is brought to the President
As a last resort, the issue is escalated to Founder for a final decision

7. Amendments to Guidelines

7.1 Amendment Process

Process:

Amendments to these guidelines follow the same process as rule changes (see Section 5)
Proposals for guideline changes must be submitted by staff members or the Captains' Council

Voting:

Changes to core structure or major guidelines require a 2/3 majority to pass
Minor changes follow the standard majority rule

7.2 Founder Succession

In the unlikely event that Founder is unable or unwilling to continue in their role:

The Staff will nominate three candidates from the community who have demonstrated long-term commitment to the league and have the technical skills to maintain system integrity.
A community vote will be held within one week to select the new founder from these candidates.
The voting process will be overseen by the President, following the same procedures as other elections.
The founder role remains focused on system integrity and final conflict resolution, not day-to-day league operations.
This succession process can only be initiated if the Founder is genuinely unable to continue in the role, not due to community or leadership dissatisfaction.

7.3 Special Status of Section 7

Section 7 in its entirety, including all subsections, cannot be modified through the standard amendment process outlined in Section 7.1 without explicit Founder approval. This special status ensures the stability of both the amendment process and the Founder succession rules.

8. League Participation

8.1 Minimum Team Requirement

The league will officially begin with a minimum of 7 registered teams
Details and season rules will be announced before every season

8.2 Staff Participation in Games

Staff members are allowed to participate in league games under the following conditions:

They must recuse themselves from any decisions directly affecting:
Their team
Any match they participate in
Any match involving their team, even if they're not playing
Their participation is subject to review by the Captains' Council
No more than 2 staff members can be part of the same team
Staff members must declare any potential conflicts of interest related to their participation in the league
All decisions made by staff members who are also players will be subject to heightened scrutiny and must be documented for review

8.3 Presidential Participation in Games

The President is allowed to participate in league games under the following conditions:

A captain may challenge the president’s participation at any time.
If another captain seconds the motion, this will prompt a 24 hour discussion, after which a 48 hour vote will begin.
If a majority of captains vote to revoke presidential participation in league games, then the president will be removed from any roster they are on, unless they choose to step down from the role of president
If the motion fails, these captains will not be able to issue another challenge of this nature for the remainder of the season [Note: they are still eligible to vote if another pair successfully challenges participation]
The President must recuse themselves from any decisions directly affecting:
Their team
Any match they participate in
Any match involving their team, even if they're not playing
In cases where the President's participation significantly impacts their ability to fulfill their duties, the Captains' Council may recommend temporary reassignment of certain responsibilities
The Captains' Council reserves the right to revoke the President's participation privilege at any time if it is deemed to be detrimental to the league's integrity or operations
For any conflicts involving the President's team or matches, the Founder will oversee the resolution process

9. Transparency

9.1 Community Observation

All Captains' Council channels will be open for community observation
Community members can view discussions and voting processes but cannot participate

9.2 Captains' Council Observation of Staff

Captains' Council members will have read-only access to designated Staff channels
This allows for oversight of staff discussions and decision-making processes

9.3 Public Records

Meeting summaries, voting records, and major decisions will be made publicly available

10. Conclusion

The LEAGUE7 Organizational Guidelines establish a comprehensive framework for league governance, emphasizing transparency, fairness, and community involvement. At the core of this structure is a balanced leadership system, featuring a Founder responsible for system integrity, an elected President overseeing operations, a team of Staff members managing rules and enforcement, and a Captains' Council providing crucial checks and balances.

To support this structure, the guidelines outline detailed processes for elections, rule changes, and conflict resolution. The President and some Staff members are elected through a transparent voting system, while others are appointed, creating a mix of continuity and fresh perspectives. Rule changes require careful consideration and approval from the Captains' Council, with provisions for fast-tracking urgent issues. Additionally, a structured conflict resolution process encourages direct communication while providing clear escalation paths when needed.

Transparency is a key focus throughout the guidelines. Most discussions and decision-making processes are open to community observation, and regular updates are provided to all members. This openness extends to the participation of Staff and the President in league games, with strict conditions and heightened scrutiny to maintain fairness. The guidelines also establish a code of conduct that sets clear expectations for behavior in both community spaces and during gameplay, further enhancing the league's commitment to transparency and fairness.

Demonstrating foresight, the document includes provisions for league expansion, unexpected situations, and even the potential succession of the Founder role. It strikes a balance between providing a stable framework and allowing for adaptability as the league grows and evolves. By clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and processes, these guidelines aim to create a fair, competitive, and enjoyable environment for all LEAGUE7 participants, ensuring the league's longevity and success.