Introduction

The governance and decision-making framework for the House of Merit (HoM) and the Council of Advisors (CoA) consists of a series of clearly defined processes designed to ensure fair and effective allocation of resources from the treasury into the ecosystem. This document outlines these crucial processes, namely:

  1. Proposal Drafting Process (House of Merit): This is the first step of the governance process where members of the House of Merit (HoM) create and submit proposals for the allocation of resources to identified needs or opportunities within the ecosystem. The minimum requirement to submit a proposal is 2 Co-Sponsors from the House of Merit (1 creator, and 1 co-signer, or both creators). Once a proposal is put forward, is has a voting window of 48 hours.
  2. Proposal Review Process (House of Merit): After a proposal is submitted, and during the 48 hour window, the proposal can be reviewed by the members of the HoM. This review involves an assessment of the proposal's alignment with the 6-month plan and overall Congress strategy, as well as a detailed evaluation of its potential impact on the ecosystem and return on investment.
  3. Proposal Vote Process (House of Merit): During this review period the proposal is open for voting. If a proposal receives the majority of votes (8/15 in the HoM), it is passed and forwarded to the Council of Advisors for further scrutiny.
  4. Veto Process (Council of Advisors): While the process has ended for the HoM, the final step in the decision-making process also involves the Council of Advisors. The CoA reviews the passed proposal, evaluates its potential risks and impact on the ecosystem. If deemed unsuitable or excessively risky, a council member may initiate a veto motion, which, if passed through two rounds of voting, can halt the proposal and its associated funding.

Process

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Funding Application Process (House of Merit)

Step 1: Idea Formation

Members who are keen on forwarding a proposal start by recognizing a need or an opportunity within the ecosystem. This might come from personal observation, discussion with other members, feedback from the ecosystem, or strategic budgeting direction from the Council of Advisors. The key is to develop an idea that not only addresses this need or opportunity but also aligns with the House of Merit's 6-month strategic plan and the overall direction of the Congress in the Ecosystem.

Step 2: Proposal Development

Next, the member refines their initial idea into a draft level proposal. This document should highlight the core concept and initial thoughts before they are fully developed into a complete proposal. The draft allows for early feedback and discussion, preventing significant time and effort from being spent on proposals that may not receive support.

Once the draft level proposal is positively received, it can be transformed into a comprehensive formal proposal. This should articulate every aspect of the initiative clearly and succinctly. The proposal must include the following sections:

Section Description
Proposal Title A concise, yet descriptive name for the proposal. It should give readers an immediate sense of what the proposal aims to achieve.
Proposal Summary A brief overview that introduces the initiative, explaining its essence and the need it intends to fulfill. This should be crafted in a compelling manner to draw the reader's interest.
Detailed Description A thorough explanation of the proposal, touching on every important aspect. This includes the strategy for implementation, expected challenges and proposed solutions, anticipated milestones and timelines, and any other relevant details.
Budget Requested A detailed financial plan that outlines how the funds will be used. It should break down itemized costs, provide justifications for the various expenditures, and explain how the budget contributes to the realization of the proposed idea.

At least one other member of the House of Merit must co-sign the proposal, signifying their understanding and support for its submission.

Step 3: Proposal Submission

Once the proposal is finalized and co-signed, it is formally submitted to the House of Merit for review. The submission should be accompanied by a brief explanation or presentation that reiterates the importance of the proposal to the ecosystem and encourages members to read and consider it in detail. Members should ensure that the proposal is submitted well ahead of the House's next meeting, giving others enough time to review and comprehend it. By doing this, they also demonstrate their respect for others' time, which can help garner support for their proposal.

Funding Review Process (House of Merit)