Rules that Can Be Modified in Holacracy v5.0

You need to know that while all of the rules in the Holacracy Constitution are important, they are not equally so. Thankfully, the differences are more clear in Constitution version 5.0 because it specifies which rules can be replaced with a policy.

Note: See the “Notes” section at the end for some additional context on these rules and the methodology I used.

Summary

Constitutionally-Defined Processes:

• §3.2: The default tactical meeting process can be changed via a policy.
• §4.1.2: Domains may be impacted by announcing your intent to impact, but this may be changed via a policy.
• §4.1.3: Authorization to spend money may be granted using the defined process, but this may be changed via policy.
• §5.1.1: Normally, the Circle Rep is elected using the Integrative Election Process, but this can be changed by defining an alternative process via policy.
• §5.3: The asynchronous governance process automatically stops if someone requests that a proposal be brought to a meeting unless a policy says otherwise.
• §5.4.2: No quorum is needed for a governance meeting unless a policy says otherwise.
• §5.4.3: A policy of the circle may add to the defined governance meeting process, but may not conflict with any rules or requirements defined in Article 5.

Constitutionally-Defined Roles:

• §1.4.5: A circle may add accountabilities or domains to its own Circle Lead role, and later remove these additions. However, any additions automatically apply to every sub-circle’s Circle Lead role as well, recursively. (NOTE: A circle may not add accountabilities or domains just to its own Circle Lead role, or any only relevant within that Circle.) In addition, a Circle may remove any accountabilities, domains, authorities, or functions of its own Circle Lead role. It can do this either by placing them on another role in the circle, or by defining an alternate means of enacting them. Doing this automatically removes the relevant authority or element from the circle’s Circle Lead role, for as long as the delegation remains in place.
• §5.1.1: A circle may add accountabilities or domains to its own Circle Rep role, as well as amend or remove those additions. (NOTE: No circle may amend or remove the purpose of the role, nor any accountabilities placed on the role by the Constitution.)

Constitutionally-Defined (Other):

• §1.4: The Anchor Circle has no Circle Leads, unless a policy of the anchor circle says otherwise.
• §3.1: For regular tactical meetings convened by a circle’s Secretary, all of the circle’s roles are invited unless a policy says otherwise.

Notes

#1. Scope of the Policy

It’s important to remember that when a policy changes a default rule or process in the Constitution, it only applies within the circle that holds the policy. In Constitution v5.0, there are multiple types of “policies,” and there are different rules which apply to different types. Section 5.2.1 states, “A policy that changes a default rule or process in the Constitution applies only within the circle that holds the policy, or if explicitly stated, within all sub-circles as well, recursively. In the latter case, a sub-circle may still override that policy via one of its own, unless explicitly forbidden in the original policy.”

#2. Two Types of Modifiable Content

A) “If this article is not adopted…” Places on the Constitution Adoption Declaration which allows for the direct modification by broader Circle Leads or by the ratifiers of any not-adopted articles; e.g. “Article 3: Tactical Meetings: If this Article is not adopted, the Organization will continue its current meeting habits, until otherwise changed by a Circle Lead for their Circle, or until otherwise specified by a broader Circle Lead or by the Ratifiers.” This allows for a staggered and customizable adoption path based on a shared and transparent Constitution without immediately excluding all vestiges of the conventional management hierarchy. This list excludes any discussion of these modifications.

B) “A Policy may change this…” Places where the Constitution allows the practicing organization to adopt a policy that can directly contradict or change a given rule; e.g. “§3.2 Meeting Process:…a Policy of a Circle may specify an alternate process or amend this default process for Tactical Meetings called by any of the Circle’s Roles.” This document is only concerned with listing these particular sections as they are spread out and may not be immediately locatable using the Constitution alone.

#3. Not all “policy” references are included.

In some places, the Constitution explicitly says that a policy may be used to further define something in the Constitution, but it does not grant permission for the policy to contradict or change what has already been defined in the Constitution (e.g. §1.2 Role Assignment: “…A Policy may further constrain Role assignments or removals.”) I did not include those.

In addition, some references simply state that a policy is the proper mechanism or construct to use (e.g. §1.3.4 Linking Into Circles: “A Role may link into another Circle if a Policy of that other Circle or any Super-Circle thereof invites it”). These references are also excluded.

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