THE SHORT LOGICAL RULESET
Most Recent Ruleset Change Recorded:
Adoption of Proposal 7875, 7 Sep 2017
Online documents:
https://agoranomic.github.io/ruleset/slr.txt (SLR)
https://agoranomic.github.io/ruleset/flr.txt (FLR)
https://agoranomic.github.io/ruleset/ (HLR, not legally part of my
report but always in sync with the other two)
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Agora
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Rule 101/17 (Power=3)
The Game of Agora
Agora is a game of Nomic, wherein Persons, acting in accordance
with the Rules, communicate their game Actions and/or results of
these actions via Fora in order to play the game. The game may
be won, but the game never ends.
Please treat Agora Right Good Forever.
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Rule 1698/4 (Power=3)
Agora Is A Nomic
Agora is ossified if it is IMPOSSIBLE for any reasonable combination of
actions by players to cause arbitrary rule changes to be made and/or
arbitrary proposals to be adopted within a four-week period.
If, but for this rule, the net effect of a proposal would cause Agora to
become ossified, or would cause Agora to cease to exist, it cannot take
effect, rules to the contrary notwithstanding.If any other single change
to the gamestate would cause Agora to become ossified, or would cause
Agora to cease to exist, it is cancelled and does not occur, rules to the
contrary notwithstanding.
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Rule 478/34 (Power=3)
Fora
Freedom of speech being essential for the healthy functioning of
any non-Imperial nomic, it is hereby resolved that no Player
shall be prohibited from participating in the Fora, nor shall
any person create physical or technological obstacles that
unduly favor some players' fora access over others.
Publicity is a forum switch with values Public, Discussion, and
Foreign (default), tracked by the Registrar. Changes to
publicity are secured.
The Registrar may change the publicity of a forum without
objection as long as:
1. e sends eir announcement of intent to that forum; and
2. if the forum is to be made public, the announcement by which
the Registrar makes that forum public is sent to all
existing public fora.
Each player should ensure e can receive messages via each public
forum.
A public message is a message sent via a public forum, or sent
to all players and containing a clear designation of intent to
be public. A rule can also designate that a part of one public
message is considered a public message in its own right. A
person "publishes" or "announces" something by sending a public
message.
Where the rules define an action that CAN be performed "by
announcement", a person performs that action by unambiguously
and clearly specifying the action and announcing that e performs
it. Any action performed by sending a message is performed at
the time date-stamped on that message. Actions in messages
(including sub-messages) are performed in the order they appear
in the message, unless otherwise specified.
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Players
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Rule 869/39 (Power=3)
How to Join and Leave Agora
Any organism that is generally capable of freely originating and
communicating independent thoughts and ideas is a person. Rules
to the contrary notwithstanding, no other entities are persons.
Citizenship is a person switch with values Unregistered
(default) and Registered, tracked by the Registrar. Changes to
citizenship are secured. A registered person is a Player.
A person CAN (unless explicitly forbidden or prevented by the
rules) register by publishing a message that indicates
reasonably clearly and reasonably unambiguously that e intends
to become a player at that time. A person, by registering,
agrees to abide by the Rules. The Rules CANNOT otherwise bind a
person to abide by any agreement without that person's willful
consent.
A player CAN deregister (cease being a player) by announcement.
If e does so, e CANNOT register by announcement for 30 days.
If a player has not sent a message to a public forum in the last
month, then any player CAN deregister em without objection.
The Rules CANNOT compel non-players to act, nor compel players
to unduly harass non-players. A non-person CANNOT be a player,
rules to the contrary notwithstanding.
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Rule 2139/9 (Power=2)
The Registrar
The Registrar is an office; its holder is responsible for
keeping track of players.
The Registrar's weekly report includes:
1. A list of all players, including information sufficient to
identify and contact each player.
2. The date on which each player most recently became a player.
3. For each forum with non-Foreign publicity, sufficient
instructions for players to receive messages there.
The Registrar's monthly report includes:
1. For each former player for which the information is
reasonably available, the dates on which e registered and
deregistered.
In the first week of every month the Registrar SHALL attempt to
deregister every player that has not sent a message to a public
forum in the preceding month.
The Registrar's duties and abilities also include:
* Changing the publicity of a forum, as described in Rule 478.
* Publishing Cantus Cygnei and Writs of FAGE as described in
Rule 1789.
The Registrar is also responsible for tracking any switches that
would otherwise lack an officer to track them, unless the switch
is defined as untracked.
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Rule 1789/9 (Power=2)
Cantus Cygneus
Whenever a Player feels that e has been treated so egregiously
by the Agoran community that e can no longer abide to be a part
of it, e may submit a document to the Registrar, clearly labeled
a Cantus Cygneus, detailing eir grievances and expressing eir
reproach for those who e feels have treated em so badly.
In a timely fashion after receiving a Cantus Cygneus, the
Registrar shall publish this document along with a Writ of
Fugiendae Agorae Grandissima Exprobratione, commanding the
Player to be deregistered. The Registrar shall note the method
of deregistration for that Player in subsequent Registrar
Reports.
The Player is deregistered as of the posting of the Writ, and
the notation in the Registrar's Report will ensure that,
henceforth, all may know said Player deregistered in a Writ of
FAGE.
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Rules & Power
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Rule 2141/9 (Power=3)
Role and Attributes of Rules
A rule is a type of instrument with the capacity to govern the
game generally, and is always taking effect. A rule's content
takes the form of a text, and is unlimited in scope.
Every rule has power between 0.1 and 4.0 inclusive. It is
not possible for a rule to have a power outside this range.
Rules have ID numbers, to be assigned by the Rulekeepor.
Every rule shall have a title to aid in identification. If a
rule ever does not have a title, the Rulekeepor SHALL assign a
title to it by announcement in a timely fashion.
For the purposes of rules governing modification of instruments,
the text, power, ID number, and title of a rule are all
substantive aspects of the rule. However, rules to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Rulekeepor CAN set rule aspects as
described elsewhere in this rule.
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Rule 1688/8 (Power=3)
Power
The Power of an entity is a non-negative rational number. An
Instrument is an entity with positive Power.
The Power of an entity cannot be set or modified except as
stipulated by the Rules. All entities have Power zero except
where specifically allowed by the rules.
Power less than one is called Ephemeral power, and an instrument
with a power less than one is an Ephemeral instrument.
A Rule that makes a change, action, or value secured (hereafter
the securing Rule) thereby makes it IMPOSSIBLE to perform that
change or action, or to set or modify that value, except as
allowed by an Instrument with Power greater than or equal to the
change's Power Threshold. This Threshold defaults to the
securing Rule's Power, but CAN be lowered as allowed by that
Rule (including by the Rule itself).
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Rule 2140/2 (Power=3)
Power Controls Mutability
No entity with power below the power of this rule can
1. cause an entity to have power greater than its own.
2. adjust the power of an instrument with power greater than
its own.
3. set or modify any other substantive aspect of an instrument
with power greater than its own. A "substantive" aspect of
an instrument is any aspect that affects the instrument's
operation.
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Rule 217/11 (Power=3)
Interpreting the Rules
When interpreting and applying the rules, the text of the rules
takes precedence. Where the text is silent, inconsistent, or
unclear, it is to be augmented by game custom, common sense,
past judgements, and consideration of the best interests of the
game.
Definitions and prescriptions in the rules are only to be
applied using direct, forward reasoning; in particular, an
absurdity that can be concluded from the assumption that a
statement about rule-defined concepts is false does not
constitute proof that it is true. Definitions in lower-powered
Rules do not overrule common-sense interpretations or common
definitions of terms in higher-powered rules.
Rules to the contrary notwithstanding, any rule change that
would (1) prevent a person from initiating a formal process to
resolve matters of controversy, in the reasonable expectation
that the controversy will thereby be resolved; or (2) prevent a
person from causing formal reconsideration of any judicial
determination that e should be punished, is wholly void and
without effect.
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Rule 1030/11 (Power=3.2)
Precedence between Rules
In a conflict between Rules, the conflict shall be resolved by
performing the following comparisons in the sequence written in
this rule, until the conflict is resolved.
- In a conflict between Rules with different Power, the Rule
with the higher Power takes precedence over the Rule with the
lower Power; otherwise,
- If all of the Rules in conflict explicitly say that their
precedence relations are determined by some other Rule for
determining precedence relations, then the determinations of
the precedence-determining Rule shall be used to resolve the
conflicts; otherwise,
- If at least one of the Rules in conflict explicitly says of
itself that it defers to another Rule (or type of Rule) or
takes precedence over another Rule (or type of Rule), then
such provisions shall be used to resolve the conflict, unless
they lead to contradictions between each other; otherwise,
- If any of the rules in conflict have ID numbers, then the Rule
with the lowest ID number takes precedence; otherwise,
- The Rule enacted earliest takes precedence.
Clauses in any other rule that broadly claim precedence (e.g.
over "all rules" of a certain class) shall be, prima facie,
considered to be limited claims of precedence or deference that
are applicable only when such claims are evaluated as described
within the above sequence.
No change to the Ruleset can occur that would cause a Rule to
directly claim precedence over this Rule as a means of
determining precedence. This applies to changes by the
enactment or amendment of a Rule, or of any other form. This
Rule takes precedence over any Rule that would permit such a
change to the Ruleset.
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Rule 2240/1 (Power=3)
No Cretans Need Apply
In a conflict between clauses of the same Rule, if exactly one
claims precedence over the other, then it takes precedence;
otherwise, the later clause takes precedence.
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Rule 105/13 (Power=3)
Rule Changes
Where permitted by other rules, an instrument generally can,
as part of its effect,
1. enact a rule. The new rule has power equal to the minimum
of the power specified by the enacting instrument,
defaulting to one if the enacting instrument does not
specify or if it specifies a power less than 0.1, and the
maximum power permitted by other rules. The enacting
instrument may specify a title for the new rule, which if
present shall prevail. The ID number of the new rule cannot
be specified by the enacting instrument; any attempt to so
specify is null and void.
2. repeal a rule. When a rule is repealed, it ceases to be a
rule, and the Rulekeepor need no longer maintain a record
of it.
3. reenact a rule. A repealed rule identified by its most
recent rule number may be reenacted with the same ID number
and the next change identifier. If no text is specified,
the rule is reenacted with the same text it had when it was
most recently repealed. If the reenacting proposal provides
new text for the rule, the rule must have materially the
same purpose as did the repealed version; otherwise, the
attempt to reenact the rule is null and void.
4. amend the text of a rule.
5. retitle a rule.
6. change the power of a rule.
A rule change is any effect that falls into the above classes.
Rule changes always occur sequentially, never simultaneously.
Any ambiguity in the specification of a rule change causes that
change to be void and without effect. An inconsequential
variation in the quotation of an existing rule does not
constitute ambiguity for the purposes of this rule, but any
other variation does.
A rule change is wholly prevented from taking effect unless its
full text was published, along with an unambiguous and clear
specification of the method to be used for changing the rule, at
least 4 days and no more than 60 days before it would otherwise
take effect.
This rule provides the only mechanism by which rules can be
created, modified, or destroyed, or by which an entity can
become a rule or cease to be a rule.
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Reusable Definitions
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Rule 2152/7 (Power=3)
Mother, May I?
The following terms are defined. These definitions are used
when a rule includes a term in all caps, and provide guidance in
determining the ordinary-language meaning of a term when a rule
includes a term otherwise. Earlier definitions take precedence
over later ones. If a rule specifies one or more persons in
connection with a term, then the term applies only to the
specified person(s).
1. CANNOT, IMPOSSIBLE, INEFFECTIVE, INVALID: Attempts to
perform the described action are unsuccessful.
2. MUST NOT, MAY NOT, SHALL NOT, ILLEGAL, PROHIBITED: Performing
the described action violates the rule in question.
3. NEED NOT, OPTIONAL: Failing to perform the described action
does not violate the rules.
4. SHOULD NOT, DISCOURAGED, DEPRECATED: Before performing the
described action, the full implications of performing it
should be understood and carefully weighed.
5. CAN: Attempts to perform the described action are successful.
6. MAY: Performing the described action does not violate the
rules.
7. MUST, SHALL, REQUIRED, MANDATORY: Failing to perform the
described action violates the rule in question.
8. SHOULD, ENCOURAGED, RECOMMENDED: Before failing to perform
the described action, the full implications of failing to
perform it should (in the ordinary-language sense) be
understood and carefully weighed.
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Rule 2162/8 (Power=2)
Switches
A type of switch is a property that the rules define as a
switch, and specify the following:
1. The type(s) of entity possessing an instance of that switch.
No other entity possesses an instance of that switch.
2. One or more possible values for instances of that switch,
exactly one of which is designated as the default. No other
values are possible for instances of that switch.
3. Optionally, exactly one office whose holder tracks instances
of that switch. That officer's (weekly, if not specified
otherwise) report includes the value of each instance of that
switch whose value is not its default value; a public
document purporting to be this portion of that officer's
report is self-ratifying, and implies that other instances
are at their default value.
At any given time, each instance of a switch has exactly one
possible value for that type of switch. If an instance of a
switch comes to have a value, it ceases to have any other value.
If an instance of a switch would otherwise fail to have a
possible value, it comes to have its default value.
"To flip an instance of a switch" is to make it come to have a
given value. "To become X" (where X is a possible value of
exactly one of the subject's switches) is to flip that switch to
X.
If an action or set of actions would cause the value of an
instance of a switch to become indeterminate, the instance
instead takes on its last determinate and possible value, if
any, otherwise it takes on its default value.
A natural switch is a switch with a default value of 0, unless
the rules explicitly specify a different default value. If the
rules define an upper limit for the switch, then the possible
values are non-negative integers not greater than that limit,
otherwise the values are the non-negative integers.
A singleton switch is a switch for which Agora Nomic is the only
entity possessing an instance of that switch.
A boolean switch is a switch with values True and False. A
positive boolean switch has a default of True; a negative
boolean switch has a default of False.
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Rule 2125/9 (Power=3)
Regulated Actions
An action is restricted if: (1) the Rules limit, allow, enable,
or permit its performance; (2) describe the circumstances under
which the action would succeed or fail; or (3) the action would,
as part of its effect, modify information for which some player
is required to be a recordkeepor.
Restricted Actions CAN only be performed as described by the
Rules. The Rules SHALL NOT be interpreted so as to proscribe
unrestricted actions.
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Rule 1023/36 (Power=2)
Common Definitions
The following terms are defined:
1. The phrase "in a timely fashion" means "within 7 days".
This time period is set when the requirement is created
(i.e. X days before the limit ends). A requirement to
perform an action at an exact instant (e.g. "when X, Y
SHALL Z"), but not "in the same message", is instead
interpreted as a requirement to perform that action in a
timely fashion after that instant.
2. Agoran epochs:
1. Agoran days begin at midnight UTC.
2. Agoran weeks begin at midnight UTC on Monday.
3. Agoran months begin at midnight UTC on the first day of
each Gregorian month.
4. Agoran quarters begin when the Agoran months of January,
April, July, and October begin.
5. Agoran years begin when the Agoran month of January
begins.
6. A pivot is either the instant at which Agora Nomic began
(June 30, 1993, 00:04:30 GMT +1200) or an instant at
which at least one person won the game. When used as a
period of time, a "Round" (historical syn: "game") is
the period of time between a pivot and the next pivot.
These definitions do not apply to relative durations (e.g.
"within <number> days after <event>").
3. If a restricted value, or the value of a conditional, or a
value otherwise required to determine the outcome of a
restricted action, CANNOT be reasonably determined (without
circularity or paradox) from information reasonably
available, or if it alternates instantaneously and
indefinitely between values, then the value is considered to
be Indeterminate, otherwise it is Determinate.
4. Two points in time are within a month of each other if:
1. they occur in the same Agoran month;
2. they occur in two consecutive Agoran months, and the
later of the two occurs in an earlier day in the month
than the earlier one;
3. they occur in two consecutive Agoran months on the same
day of the month, and the later of the two occurs at the
same or earlier time of day.
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Rule 1728/36 (Power=3)
Dependent Actions
A rule which purports to allow a person (the performer) to
perform an action by a set of one or more of the following
methods (N is 1 unless otherwise specified):
1. Without N Objections, where N is a positive integer no
greater than 8. ("Without Objection" is shorthand for this
method with N = 1.)
2. With N Supporters, where N is a positive integer. ("With
Support" is shorthand for this method with N = 1.)
3. With N Agoran Consent, where N is an integer multiple of 0.1
with a minimum of 1.
4. With Notice.
5. With T Notice, where T is a time period.
thereby allows em to perform the action by announcement if all
of the following are true:
1. A person (the initiator) announced intent to perform the
action, unambiguously and clearly specifying the action and
method(s) (including the value of N and/or T for each
method), at most fourteen days earlier.
2. If the action is to be performed With N Objections, With N
Agoran Consent, or With Notice, if the intent was announced
at least 4 days earlier.
3. If the action is to be performed With T Notice, if the
intent was announced at least T earlier.
4. At least one of the following is true:
1. The performer is the initiator.
2. The initiator was authorized to perform the action due
to holding a rule-defined position now held by the
performer.
3. The initiator is authorized to perform the action, the
action depends on support, the performer has supported
the intent, and the rule authorizing the performance
does not explicitly prohibit supporters from performing
it.
5. Agora is Satisfied with the announced intent, as defined by
other rules.
6. If a set of conditions for the performance of the action was
given in the announcement of intent to perform the action,
all those conditions are met.
The actor SHOULD publish a list of supporters if the action
depends on support, and a list of objectors if it depends on
objections.
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Rule 2486/0 (Power=3.14)
The Royal Parade
_
_\ /_
> _X_<
.---._ /_\ _.---.
/`.---._`{/ \}`_.---.`\
| / ___`{\_/}`___ \ |
\ \."`* `"{_}"` *`"./ /
\ \ )\ _\ /_ /( / /
\ *<()( >_X_< )()>* /
|._)/._./_\._.\(_.|
jgs |() () () () () ()|
<<o>><<o>><o>><<o>>
`"""""""""""""""""""`
IN CELEBRATION of Alexis being crowned Princess of Agora,
without prejudice to Any before or since
who may come to hold a Title
whether Patent or otherwise;
IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a Royal Parade be established,
imbued in this very Rule,
which shall travel around Agora to Rules of import;
AND THEREFORE, the Rulekeepor SHOULD place this Rule
near recently-amended rules of high Power;
AND FURTHERMORE, additions to this Parade are most welcome
when Events suiting the honour should occur.
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Rule 2124/20 (Power=2)
Agoran Satisfaction
A Supporter of a dependent action is an eligible entity who has publicly
posted (and not withdrawn) support (syn. "consent") for an announcement of
intent to perform the action.An Objector to a dependent action is an
eligible entity who has publicly posted (and not withdrawn) an objection
to the announcement of intent to perform the action.
The entities eligible to support or object to a dependent action are, by
default, all players, subject to modification by the document authorizing
the dependent action.However, the previous sentence notwithstanding, the
Executor of the announcement of intent is not eligible to support it.
Agora is Satisfied with an intent to perform a specific action if and only
if:
1. if the action is to be performed Without N Objections, then it has
fewer than N objectors;
2. if the action is to be performed With N supporters, then it has N or
more supporters; and
3. if the action is to be performed with N Agoran Consent, then the ratio
of supporters to objectors is greater than N, or the action has at
least one supporter and no objectors.
4. if the action is to be performed With Notice or With T Notice.
The above notwithstanding, if the action depends on objections, and an
objection to it has been withdrawn within the past 24 hours, then Agora is
not Satisfied with the intent.
The above notwithstanding, Agora is not satisfied with the intent if the
Speaker has objected to it in the last 48 hours.
A person CANNOT support or object to an announcement of intent before the
intent is announced, or after e has withdrawn the same type of response.
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Rule 2466/0 (Power=3)
Acting on Behalf
When a rule allows one person (the agent) to act on behalf of another (the
principal) to perform an action, that agent CAN perform the action if it
is POSSIBLE for the principal to do so, taking into account any
prerequisites for the action. If the enabling rule does not specify the
mechanism by which the agent may do so, then the agent CAN perform the
action in the same manner in which the principal CAN do so, with the
additional requirement that the agent must, in the message in which the
action is performed, uniquely identify the principal and that the action
is being taken on behalf of that person.
When an action is performed on behalf of a principal, then the action is
considered for all game purposes to have been performed by the principal.
This rule takes precedence over any rule which would prohibit a person
from taking an action, except that it defers to any rule that imposes
limitations specifically on actions taken on behalf of another person.
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Rule 2166/22 (Power=3)
Assets
An asset is an entity defined as such by the ruleset (hereafter its backing
document), and existing solely because its backing document defines its
existence.
Each asset has exactly one owner.If an asset would otherwise lack an
owner, it is owned by Agora.If an asset's backing document restricts
its ownership to a class of entities, then that asset CANNOT be
gained by or transferred to an entity outside that class, and is
destroyed if it is owned by an entity outside that class (except for
Agora, in which case any player CAN transfer or destroy it without
objection). The restrictions in the previous sentence are subject to
modification by its backing document.
Unless modified by an asset's backing document, ownership of an asset is
restricted to Agora, persons, and organizations.
An organization's charter CAN specify whether or not that organization is
willing receive assets or a class of assets. Generally, an organization
CANNOT
be given assets its charter states that it is unwilling to receive. The
previous provisions of this paragraph do not apply to an asset if the
organization is required to provide that asset in order to continue
existing.
The recordkeepor of a class of assets is the entity (if any)
defined as such by, and bound by, its backing document. That
entity's report includes a list of all instances of that class
and their owners. This portion of that entity's report is
self-ratifying.
An asset generally CAN be destroyed by its owner by
announcement, subject to modification by its backing document. An
indestructible asset is one defined as such by it backing document, and
CANNOT
be destroyed except by a rule specifically addressing the destruction of
indestructible assets or that asset in particular; any other asset is
destructible. In circumstances where another asset would be
destroyed, an indestructible asset is generally transferred to Agora,
subject
to modification by its backing document and the intervention of other
rules.
To "lose" an asset is to have it destroyed from one's
possession; to "revoke" an asset from an entity is to destroy it
from that entity's possession.
An asset generally CAN be transferred (syn. payed, given) by its owner to
another entity by announcement, subject to modification by its backing
document. A fixed asset is one defined as such by its backing
document, and CANNOT be transferred; any other asset is liquid.
When a rule indicates transfering an amount that is not a natural number,
the specified amount is rounded up to the nearest natural number.
A currency is a class of asset defined as such by its backing document.
Instances of a currency with the same owner are fungible.
The "x balance of an entity", where x is a currency, is the number of x
that
entity possesses. If a rule, proposal, or other competent authority
attempts
to increase or decrease the balance of an entity without specifying a
source
or destination, then the currency is created or destroyed.
When a player causes one or more balances to change, e is ENCOURAGED
to specify the resulting balance(s). Players SHOULD NOT specify
inaccurate balances.
Where it resolves ambiguity, the asset or currency being referred to is the
currency designated as "Agora's official currency", if there is one.
Amendments to a backing document shall not be construed to alter, transfer,
destroy, or otherwise effect any assets defined by that document, unless
that is their clear intent.
Assets are always public. [To provide for private contract based assets
later]
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Rule 2493/0 (Power=3.1)
Regulations
A Regulation is an instrument defined as such by this rule. A regulation
allows an officer (known as the Promulgator) to exercise rule defined
powers.
A regulation is in effect continuously from the time of its creation to the
time of either its revocation or the repeal of the rule that allowed for
its
creation. When recommending a regulation, its Promulgator must specify by
number the rule(s) upon which it is based (the parent rules), the list of
which becomes an integral part of the regulation. The list of rules can
generally be modified by the Promulgator according to the procedure for
text
changes.
A regulation must be authorized by at least one rule in order for it to
exist.
A regulation has effect on the game (only) insofar as the rule or rules
that
authorized it permit it to have effect, and a regulation generally inherits
the power of its least powerful parent rule, unless its Promulgator defines
a lower power. If reasonably possible, a regulation should be
interpreted so as to defer to other rules. The procedure for resolving
conflict between regulations is the same as it is for rules.
Regulations are generally issued according to the following procedures,
and they can be repealed by the announcement of their Promulgator.
Alternate
procedures may be used if provided for by all of the regulations's parent
rules. If one parent rule specifies procedures that are more stringent than
those that the other(s) specifies, those apply. Creating, modifying,
revoking,
or allowing for a regulation is secured at power 1.
A regulation (or set of regulations), authorized by another rule, may
generally be enacted or modified by its promulgator without 2 objections,
or with Agoran consent. A notice pursuant to the previous sentence is
known as a "recommendation", and the regulation(s) are said to be
"recommended" to Agora.
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Rule 2494/0 (Power=1)
The Regkeepor
The Regkeepor is an office, responsible for the maintenance of the
Regulations. The Regulations are contained in the Regkeepor's weekly
report,
know as the Agora Nomic Code of Regulations (ACORN). E MAY publish multiple
versions or editions of the ACORN.
The ACORN is divided into titles, assigned by the Regkeepor, which are
each given an integer. Generally, each office with the power to create
regulations SHOULD be assigned the next successive natural number. Title 0
of
the ACORN is reserved for use by the Regkeepor, and nothing in that title
need be a regulation. Non-regulations printed in the ACORN
have no binding effect, and SHALL clearly be marked by the Regkeepor.
Each regulation SHALL be assigned an ID number by the Regkeepor, consisting
of a string of the characters [0-9] and separator characters. The Regkeepor
SHOULD establish some way of keeping track of the version of a regulations.
The Regkeepor MAY also, at eir discretion, create ways of marking special
types of Regulation (even in violation of the previous restrictions of this
paragraph), mark sections or titles as reserved for future use, and
make such other discussions of arrangement, annotation, and marking as are
necessary and proper in the execution of eir duties.
The Regkeepor SHOULD remember that the purpose of the ACORN is to make the
regulations easily readable, and e SHALL not act in a manner intended to
deceive others in eir official capacity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2500/0 (Power=1)
Action Points
At the beginning of every Agoran Week, every player has 2 Action Points.
When a player 'spends' an Action Point, e has one less Action Point. If a
player has 0 Action Points, e may not spend any more Action Points, rules
to the contrary notwithstanding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Proposals
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2350/9 (Power=3)
Proposals
A proposal is a type of entity consisting of a body of text and
other attributes. A player CAN create a proposal by
announcement, specifying its text and optionally specifying any
of the following attributes:
* An associated title.
* A list of co-authors (which must be persons other than the
author).
* An adoption index.
Creating a proposal adds it to the Proposal Pool. Once a
proposal is created, nether its text nor any of the
aforementioned attributes can be changed. The author (syn.
proposer) of a proposal is the person who submitted it.
If a decision of whether to adopt a proposal was resolved as
FAILED QUORUM in the last seven days, the Promotor CAN once add
the proposal back to the Proposal Pool by announcement.
The author of a proposal in the Proposal Pool CAN remove (syn.
retract, withdraw) it from the Pool by announcement.
The Promotor CAN remove a proposal from the Proposal Pool by
announcement if it is not pending and has been added to the Pool
more than 14 days ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2445/8 (Power=1)
How to Pend a Proposal
Imminence is a switch, tracked by the Promotor, possessed by
proposals in the Proposal Pool, whose value is either "pending" or
"not pending" (default).
Any player CAN flip a specified proposal's imminence to "pending" by
announcement by:
a) spending 1 Action Point, OR
b) spending 1/20th the Floating Value in shinies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1607/43 (Power=3)
Distribution
The Promotor is an office; its holder is responsible for
receiving and distributing proposals.
Determining whether to adopt a proposal is an Agoran decision.
For this decision, the vote collector is the Assessor, the
adoption index is initially the adoption index of the proposal,
or 1.0 if the proposal does not have one, and the text, author,
and coauthors of the proposal are essential parameters.
Initiating such a decision is known as distribution, and removes
the proposal from the Proposal Pool.
The Promotor CAN distribute a proposal which is in the Proposal
Pool at any time. The Promotor SHALL NOT distribute proposals
which are not pending.
In a given Agoran week, the Promotor SHALL, as part of eir
weekly duties, distribute all pending proposals.
Distributed proposals have ID numbers, to be assigned by the
Promotor.
If there is a Proposal in the Pool that it would otherwise be
IMPOSSIBLE for any player to distribute, then any player CAN
distribute that Proposal Without 3 Objections.
The Promotor's report includes a list of all proposals in the
Proposal Pool, along with their text and attributes. This
portion of a public document purporting to be a Promotor's
report is self-ratifying.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2137/2 (Power=1)
The Assessor
The Assessor is an office; its holder is responsible for
collecting votes and keeping track of related properties.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 106/36 (Power=3)
Adopting Proposals
When a decision about whether to adopt a proposal is resolved, if the
outcome is ADOPTED, then the proposal in question is adopted, and unless
other rules prevent it from taking effect, its power is set to the minimum
of four and its adoption index, and then it takes effect.Except as
prohibited by other rules, a proposal that takes effect CAN and does, as
part of its effect, apply the changes that it specifies.If the proposal
cannot make some such changes, this does not preclude the other changes
from taking place.
If there is no Agoran Decision to adopt a particular proposal that has an
outcome of ADOPTED, that proposal CANNOT take effect, rules to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Preventing a proposal from taking effect is a secured change; this does
not apply to generally preventing changes to specified areas of the
gamestate, nor to a proposal preventing itself from taking effect (its no-
effect clause is generally interpreted as applying only to the rest of the
proposal).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2443/1 (Power=3)
Expediting Proposals
A player CAN expedite a proposal whose adoption index is at most
1.5, in a message containing the character string "[Expedition]"
in the subject line,
1. by specially deputising for the Promotor to distribute the
proposal, if it has not been distributed; or
2. by announcement, otherwise.
If, in an Agoran Decision to adopt a proposal, the strength of
AGAINST is zero, and the proposal was expedited at least 7 days
earlier, then any player CAN specially deputise for the Assessor
to resolve the decision.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2431/1 (Power=1)
Proposal Competitions
Any player CAN, with Agoran Consent, initiate a Proposal
Competition with a specified Objective. Only one Competition may
be in progress at a time. The Objective should be a
specification of effects of a proposal, and SHOULD NOT depend on
factors that could not be determined from the text of a
proposal.
During the Agoran Week following the initiation of a Proposal
Competition, any player CAN specify that a Proposal e submits is
a Competition Proposal for that Competition. Players are
ENCOURAGED to describe how their Competition Proposals fulfill
the Objective.
The Promotor SHALL distribute all Competition Proposals for a
given Competition in the same message. The Assessor SHALL
resolve all the Agoran Decisions to adopt the Competition
Proposals for a given Competition in the same message.
Once all Agoran decisions to adopt Competition Proposals for a
given Competition have been resolved, the Competition ends.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Voting & Elections
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 693/16 (Power=3)
Agoran Decisions
When the rules calls for an Agoran decision to be made, the decision-
making process takes place in the following three stages, each described
elsewhere:
1. Initiation of the decision.
2. Voting of the people.
3. Resolution of the decision.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 107/19 (Power=3)
Initiating Agoran Decisions
An Agoran decision is initiated when a person authorized to
initiate it publishes a valid notice which sets forth the intent
to initiate the decision. This notice is invalid if it lacks
any of the following information, and the lack is correctly
identified within one week after the notice is published:
1. The matter to be decided (for example, "the adoption of
proposal 4781").
2. A clear indication of the set of valid votes.
3. The identity of the vote collector.
4. Any additional information defined by the rules as essential
parameters.
The publication of such a valid notice initiates the voting
period for the decision. The voting period lasts for 7 days.
The minimum voting period for a decision with at least two
options is five days. The vote collector for a decision with
less than two options CAN and SHALL end the voting period by
announcement, if it has not ended already, and provided that e
resolves the decision in the same message.
The voting period for a decision cannot be set or changed to a
duration longer than fourteen days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 683/25 (Power=3)
Voting on Agoran Decisions
An entity submits a ballot on an Agoran decision by publishing a
notice satisfying the following conditions:
1. The ballot is submitted during the voting period for the
decision.
2. The entity casting the ballot (the voter) was, at the
initiation of the decision, a player.
3. The ballot clearly identifies the matter to be decided.
4. The ballot clearly identifies a valid vote, as determined by
the voting method.
5. The ballot clearly sets forth the voter's intent to place
the identified vote.
6. The voter has no other valid ballots on the same decision.
A valid ballot is a ballot, correctly submitted, that has not
been withdrawn. During the voting period of an Agoran decision,
a player CAN by announcement withdraw (syn. retract) a ballot
that e submitted on that decision. To "change" one's vote is to
retract eir previous ballot (if any), then submit a new one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 208/12 (Power=3)
Resolving Agoran Decisions
The vote collector for an unresolved Agoran decision CAN resolve
it by announcement, indicating the outcome. If it was required
to be initiated, then e SHALL resolve it in a timely fashion
after the end of the voting period. To be valid, this
announcement must satisfy the following conditions:
1. It is published after the voting period has ended.
2. It clearly identifies the matter to be resolved.
3. It specifies the outcome, as described elsewhere, and, if
there was more than one valid option, provides a tally of
the voters' valid ballots.
Each Agoran decision has exactly one vote collector, defaulting
to the initiator of the decision. If the vote collector is
defined by reference to a position (or, in the default case, if
the initiator was so defined), then the vote collector is the
current holder of that position.
This rule takes precedence over any rule that would provide
another mechanism by which an Agoran decision may be resolved.
In general, changes to the gamestate due to the outcome of an
Agoran decision take effect when the decision is resolved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 955/22 (Power=3)
Determining the Will of Agora
Each Agoran decision has a voting method, which determines how
voters may vote on it and how to calculate the outcome. The
strength of a ballot is the voting strength of the voter who
cast it on that Agoran decision.
The following voting methods are defined:
1. AI-majority: the valid votes are FOR and AGAINST. Let F be
the total strength of all valid ballots cast FOR a decision,
A be the same for AGAINST, and AI be the adoption index of
the decision. The outcome is ADOPTED if F/A >= AI and F/A >
1 (or F>0 and A=0), otherwise REJECTED.
2. Instant runoff: the valid votes are ordered lists of
options, and the outcome is whichever option wins according
to the standard definition of instant runoff. For this
purpose, a ballot of strength N is treated as if it were N
distinct ballots expressing the same preferences. In case
multiple valid options tie for the lowest number of votes at
any stage, the vote collector CAN and must, in the
announcement of the decision's resolution, select one such
option to eliminate; if, for M > 1, all eir possible choices
in the next M stages would result in the same set of options
being eliminated, e need not specify the order of
elimination.
3. First-past-the-post (default): the valid votes are the
options, and the outcome is whichever option received the
highest total strength of valid ballots. In case of a tie,
the vote collector CAN and must, in the announcement of the
decision's resolution, select one of the leaders as the
outcome.
The previous notwithstanding:
- If there is more than one option, and the number of valid
ballots is less than the quorum of that decision, the outcome
is instead FAILED QUORUM.
- PRESENT is always a valid vote, with no effect on the outcome
except counting towards quorum.
- If there are no valid options, the outcome is null.
The outcome of a decision is determined when it is resolved, and
cannot change thereafter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 879/33 (Power=2)
Quorum
Each Agoran Decision has a quorum. This is a number set when the
decision is created, and thereafter cannot be changed. When a
person initiates an Agoran Decision, that person SHALL state the
quorum of that decision. However, incorrectly stating the quorum
of a decision does not invalidate the initiation, nor does it
actually change the quorum of the decision.
The quorum that an Agoran Decision gains as it is created can be
defined by other rules of power 2 or greater. If no other rule
defines the quorum of an Agoran Decision, the quorum for that
decision is equal to the number of players who voted on the
Agoran Decision to adopt a proposal that had been most recently
resolved at the time of that decision's initiation, minus 2.
As an exception to the previous paragraph, the quorum of an
Agoran Decision can never be less than 2. If the rules would
attempt to set the quorum of an Agoran Decision to less than 2,
it is set to 2 instead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2422/2 (Power=3)
Voting Strength
The voting strength of an entity on an Agoran decision is an
integer between 0 and 5 inclusive, defined by rules of power 2
or greater. If not otherwise specified, the voting strength of
an entity on an Agoran decision is 1.
When multiple rules set or modify an entity's voting strength on
an Agoran decision, it shall be determined by first applying the
rule(s) which set it to a specific value, using the ordinary
precedence of rules, and then applying the rules, other than
this one, which modify it, in numerical order by ID. Finally, if
theresult of the calculation is not an integer, it is rounded
up, and then if it is outside the allowable range of values for
voting strength, it is set to the the minimum value if it was
less and the maximum value if it was more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2127/9 (Power=3)
Conditional Votes
If a vote on an Agoran decision is submitted conditionally (e.g.
"FOR if <X> is true, otherwise AGAINST"), then the selected
option is evaluated based on the value of the condition(s) at
the end of the voting period, and, rules to the contrary
notwithstanding, is clearly specified if and only if the value
of the condition(s) is/are determinate at the end of the voting
period. If the option cannot be clearly identified, a vote of
PRESENT is cast.
Casting a vote endorsing another voter is equivalent to
conditionally casting a vote whose value is the same as the most
common value (if any) among that voter's valid votes on that
decision.
Casting a vote denouncing another voter is equivalent to
conditionally casting a vote whose value is opposite to the most
common value (if any) among that voter's valid votes on that
decision. FOR and AGAINST are opposites.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2168/7 (Power=1)
Extending the voting period
Whenever the voting period of an Agoran decision would end, and
the result would be FAILED QUORUM, the length of the voting
period for that decision is instead increased to 14 days, except
if it is already that length, provided this has not already
happened for the decision in question.
Upon such an occurrence, the vote collector for the decision
SHALL issue a humiliating public reminder to the slackers who
have not yet cast any votes on it despite being eligible, and
CAN end its voting period by announcement (resolving it
constitutes an implicit announcement that its voting period is
first ended) if the result would no longer be FAILED QUORUM, or
if the decision is whether to adopt a proposal and no voter
(other than possibly the proposal's author) has voted FOR.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1950/32 (Power=3)
Decisions with Adoption Indices
Adoption index is an untracked switch possessed by Agoran
decisions and proposals, whose value is either "none" (default)
or an integral multiple of 0.1 from 1.0 to 9.9.
Adoption index is secured with a power threshold of 2.
Adoption index is an essential parameter of an Agoran decision
if that decision has an adoption index.
For any Agoran decision with an adoption index, the voting
method is AI-majority.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2034/9 (Power=3)
Vote Protection and Cutoff for Challenges
A public message purporting to resolve an Agoran decision
constitutes self-ratifying claims that
1. such a decision existed,
2. it was resolved as indicated, and
3. (if the indicated outcome was to adopt a proposal) such a
proposal existed, was adopted, and took effect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2154/50 (Power=2)
Election Procedure
A player CAN initiate an election for a specified elected office
for which no election is already in progress
1. by announcement, if e is the ADoP, if the office has been
deputised for within the past two weeks, or if no election
has been initiated for the office either since the last time
a player won the game or within the past 90 days;
2. with 4 Supporters, otherwise.
After the election is initiated, any player CAN once initiate an
Agoran decision to determine the new officeholder, and the ADoP
SHALL do so in a timely fashion if no one else does first. For
this decision, the valid options are the players, the vote
collector is the ADoP, and the voting method is instant runoff.
Upon the resolution of this decision, its outcome, if a player,
is installed into office, and the election ends.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Offices & Reporting
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1006/38 (Power=2)
Offices
Officeholder is an office switch tracked by the ADoP, with
possible values of any person or "vacant". An officer is the
holder of an office, who may be referred to by the name of that
office. If the holder of an office is ever not a player, it
becomes vacant.
An imposed office is an office described as such by the rule
defining it. All others are elected. A person CANNOT be made
the holder of an elected office without eir explicit or
reasonably implied consent.
The holder of an elected office CAN resign it by announcement,
causing it to become vacant. Any player CAN cause an office to
become vacant without 2 objections.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2143/26 (Power=1)
Official Reports and Duties
For each person:
1. If any task is defined by the rules as part of that person's
weekly duties, then e SHALL perform it at least once each
week. If any information is defined by the rules as part of
that person's weekly report, then e SHALL maintain all such
information, and the publication of all such information is
part of eir weekly duties.
2. If any task is defined by the rules as part of that person's
monthly duties, then e SHALL perform it at least once each
month. If any information is defined by the rules as part of
that person's monthly report, then e SHALL maintain all such
information, and the publication of all such information is
part of eir monthly duties.
Any information defined by the rules as part of a person's
report, without specifying which one, is part of eir weekly
report. Failure of a person to perform any duty required of em
within the allotted time is the Class-2 crime of Tardiness.
An official duty for an office is any duty that the Rules
specifically assign to that office's holder in particular
(regardless of eir identity).
A person SHALL NOT publish information that is inaccurate or
misleading while performing an official duty, or within a
document purporting to be part of any person or office's weekly
or monthly report.
Reports SHALL be published in plain text. Tabular data must
line up properly when viewed in a monospaced font. Publishing a
report that deviates from these restrictions is the Class 2 Crime
of Making My Eyes Bleed.
Officers SHOULD maintain a publicly visible copy of their
reports on the World Wide Web, and they SHOULD publish the
address of this copy along with their published reports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2138/23 (Power=1)
The Associate Director of Personnel
The Associate Director of Personnel (ADoP) is an office; its
holder is responsible for keeping track of officers.
The ADoP's report includes the following:
1. The date of the last change (if any) to each office's
Officeholder.
2. The date on which the most recent election for each office
was initiated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1551/18 (Power=3.1)
Ratification
A public document is part (possibly all) of a public message.
When a public document is ratified, rules to the contrary
notwithstanding, the gamestate is modified to what it would be
if, at the time the ratified document was published, the
gamestate had been minimally modified to make the ratified
document as true and accurate as possible. Such a modification
cannot add inconsistencies between the gamestate and the rules,
and it cannot include rule changes unless the ratified document
explicitly and unambiguously recites either the changes or the
resulting properties of the rule(s). If no such modification is
possible, or multiple substantially distinct possible
modifications would be equally appropriate, the ratification
fails.
An internally inconsistent document generally cannot be
ratified; however, if such a document can be divided into a
summary section and a main section, where the only purpose of
the summary section is to summarize information in the main
section, and the main section is internally consistent,
ratification of the document proceeds as if it contained only
the main section.
Text purportedly about previous instances of ratification (e.g.
a report's date of last ratification) is excluded from
ratification. The rules may define additional information that
is considered to be part of the document for the purposes of
ratification; such definitions are secured at a Power
Threshold of 3.
Ratifying a public document is secured with power threshold 3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2202/6 (Power=3)
Ratification Without Objection
Any player CAN, without objection, ratify a public document,
specifying its scope.
Ratification Without Objection CANNOT cause the repeal,
amendment, enactment, or mutation of any Rule, rules to the
contrary notwithstanding.
A player SHALL NOT knowingly use or announce intent to use
Ratification Without Objection to ratify a (prior to
ratification) document containing incorrect or Indeterminate
information when a corrected document could be produced with
reasonable effort, unless the general nature of the document's
error and reason for ratifying it is clearly and plainly
described in the announcement of intent. Such ratification
or announcement of intent to ratify is the Class-8 Crime of
Endorsing Forgery.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2201/7 (Power=3)
Self-Ratification
A public document defined by the rules as self-ratifying is
ratified when it is continuously undoubted for one week.
A doubt is an explicit public challenge via one of the following
methods, identifying a document and explaining the scope and
nature of a perceived error in it:
1. An inquiry case, appropriate for questions of legal
interpretation.
2. A claim of error, appropriate for matters of fact. The
publisher of the original document SHALL (if e was required
to publish that document) or SHOULD (otherwise) do one of
the following in a timely fashion:
1. Deny the claim (causing it to cease to be a doubt).
2. Publish a revision.
3. Initiate an inquiry case regarding the truth of the
claim (if the subject is actually a matter of law),
or cite a relevant existing inquiry case.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2160/15 (Power=3)
Deputisation
A rule which purports to allow a person (a deputy) to perform an
action via normal deputisation or special deputisation for an
office thereby allows them to perform the action as if e held
the office, as long as
1. it would be POSSIBLE for the deputy to perform the action,
other than by deputisation, if e held the office, and
2. the deputy, when performing the action, announces that e
is doing so by the appropriate form of deputisation.
Only this rule may allow normal deputisation. Any rule may allow
special deputisation.
A player CAN perform an action as if e held a particular office,
via normal deputisation, if all of the following are true:
1. The rules require the holder of that office, by virtue of
holding that office, to perform the action. This
requirement is fulfilled by the deputy performing the
action.
2. A time limit by which the rules require the action to be
performed has expired.
3. Either (i) the office is vacant; or (ii) the
aforementioned time limit expired more than fourteen days
ago; or (iii) the deputy announced between two and
fourteen days earlier that e intended to deputise for that
office for the purposes of the particular action.
When a player deputises via normal deputisation for an elected
office, e becomes the holder of that office.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2472/1 (Power=2)
Office Incompatibilities
Some pairs of office are incompatible:
1. Prime Minister and Speaker
2. Promotor and Assessor
3. Promotor and ADoP
4. Referee and Arbitor
A player is Overpowered if e holds two offices which are
incompatible with each other. Rules to the contrary
notwithstanding, a player CANNOT be installed into an office if
doing so would make em Overpowered.
If a player is Overpowered, any player CAN Demand Resignation
from em by announcement, provided e has announced intent do to
so between four and fourteen days earlier. The Overpowered
player is then removed from all offices.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2379/0 (Power=1)
No News Is Some News
If the rules define a report as including a list, then while
that list is empty, that report includes the fact that it is
empty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Rulekeeping
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1051/18 (Power=1)
The Rulekeepor
The Rulekeepor is an office; its holder is responsible for
maintaining the text of the rules of Agora.
The Rulekeepor's Weekly report includes the Short Logical
Ruleset. The Rulekeepor's Monthly report includes the Full
Logical Ruleset.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1681/21 (Power=1)
The Logical Rulesets
The Short Logical Ruleset (SLR) is a format of the ruleset. In
this format, each rule is assigned to a category, and the rules
are grouped according to their category.
Rules are assigned to, ordered within, or moved between
categories, and categories are added, changed, or empty
categories removed, as the Rulekeepor sees fit.
The listing of each rule in the SLR must include the rule's ID
number, revision number, power, title, and text.
The Rulekeepor is strongly DISCOURAGED from including any
additional information in the SLR, except that which increases
the readability of the SLR.
The Full Logical Ruleset (FLR) is a format of the ruleset. In
this format, rules are assigned to the same category and
presented in the same order as in the SLR. The FLR must contain
all the information required to be in the SLR, and any
historical annotations which the Rulekeepor is required to
record.
The Rulekeepor SHOULD also include any other information which e
feels may be helpful in the use of the ruleset in the FLR.
Whenever a rule is changed in any way, the Rulekeepor SHALL
record a historical annotation to the rule indicating:
1. The type of change.
2. The date on which the change took effect.
3. The mechanism that specified the change.
4. If the rule was changed due to a proposal, then that
proposal's ID number, author, and co-author(s) (if any).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2430/2 (Power=3)
Cleanup Time
The Rulekeepor CAN, without objection, cause this rule to amend
any specified rule by:
1. Changing the capitalization of a word, except to or from
all caps.
2. Changing visual formatting (such as the layout and
bulleting of a list).
3. Correcting formatting inconsistencies (such as doubled or
skipped items in a list).
Such a change SHALL NOT be made if it would plausibly affect the
interpretation of a rule.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2429/1 (Power=1)
Bleach
Replacing a non-zero amount of whitespace with a different
non-zero amount of whitespace is generally insignificant, except
for paragraph breaks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Calls for Judgement
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 991/17 (Power=2)
Calls for Judgement
Any person (the initiator) can initiate a Call for Judgement (CFJ,
syn. Judicial Case), specifying a statement to be inquired into:
a) by announcement, and spending 1 Action Point, OR
b) by announcement, and spending 1/20th the Floating Value in
shinies, OR
c) by announcement if e is not a player.
When a person initiates a Call for Judgment, e may optionally bar one
person from the case.
At any time, each CFJ is either open (default), suspended, or
assigned exactly one judgement.
The Arbitor is an office, responsible for the administration of
justice in a manner that is fair for emself, if not for the rest
of Agora.
When a CFJ has no judge assigned, the Arbitor CAN assign any
player to be its judge by announcement, and SHALL do so within a
week. The players eligible to be assigned as judge are all
players except the initiator and the person barred (if any).
The Arbitor SHALL assign judges over time such that all
interested players have reasonably equal opportunities to judge.
If a CFJ has no judge assigned, then any player eligible to
judge that CFJ CAN assign it to emself Without 3 Objections.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 591/43 (Power=1.7)
Delivering Judgements
When a CFJ is open and assigned to a judge, that judge CAN
assign a valid judgement to it by announcement, and SHALL do so
in a timely fashion after this becomes possible. If e does not,
the Arbitor CAN remove em from being the judge of that case by
announcement.
The valid judgements for an inquiry case are as follows, based
on the truth or falsity of the statement at the time the inquiry
case was initiated (if its truth value changed at that time,
then its initial truth value is used):
* FALSE, appropriate if the statement was factually and
logically false
* TRUE, appropriate if the statement was factually and logically
true
* IRRELEVANT, appropriate if the veracity of the statement is
not relevant to the game or is an overly hypothetical
extrapolation of the game or its rules to conditions that
don't actually exist, or if it can be trivially determined
from the outcome of another (possibly still undecided)
judicial case that was not itself judged IRRELEVANT
* INSUFFICIENT, appropriate if the statement does not come with
supporting arguments or evidence, and the judge feels as if an
undue burden is being placed on em by the lack of arguments and
evidence. A CFJ judged as INSUFFICIENT CAN and SHOULD be
submitted again with sufficient arguments/evidence.
* DISMISS, appropriate if the statement is malformed, undecidable,
if insufficient information exists to make a judgement with
reasonable effort, or the statement is otherwise not able to be
answered with another valid judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 911/51 (Power=1.7)
Motions and Moots
If a CFJ (1) has a judgement that has been in effect for less
than seven days and not been appealed, and (2) has not had a
Motion to Reconsider filed for it at any time while it has been
assigned to its current judge, then any Player CAN file a Motion
to Reconsider the case with 2 Support, or by announcement if e
is that case's judge. When a Motion to Reconsider is so filed,
the case is rendered open again.
If a CFJ has a judgement assigned, a player CAN enter that
judgement into Moot with two support. When this occurs, the CFJ
is suspended, and the Arbitor is once authorized to initiate the
Agoran decision to determine public confidence in the judgement,
which e SHALL do in a timely fashion.
For this decision, the vote collector is the Arbitor and the
valid options are AFFIRM, REMAND, and REMIT. When the decision
is resolved, the effect depends on the outcome:
- AFFIRM, FAILED QUORUM: The judgement is reassigned to the case,
and cannot be entered into Moot again.
- REMAND: The case becomes open again.
- REMIT: The case becomes open again, and the current judge is
recused. The Arbitor SHALL NOT assign em to the case again
unless no other eligible judges have displayed interest in
judging.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2175/9 (Power=1)
Judicial Retraction and Excess
A new case is a judicial case that has not had any judge
assigned to it. The initiator of a new case CAN retract it by
announcement, thus causing it to cease to be a judicial case.
An excess case is a new case whose initiator previously
initiated five or more cases during the same week as that case.
A person SHALL NOT initiate an excess case. The Arbitor CAN
refuse an excess case by announcement, thus causing it to cease
to be a judicial case. When e does so, e fulfills any
obligations with regards to that case.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2492/0 (Power=1)
Recusal
A judge may recuse emself from a CFJ they are assigned to.
When a judge recuses emself from a CFJ the following happens:
1 - The CFJ becomes unassigned
2 - The recused judge becomes ineligible to be assigned as a judge
for a week.
3 - The recused judge SHOULD suggest another judge for the CFJ to
make the Arbitor's job easier.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Punishment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2426/5 (Power=2)
Cards
A Card is a recognition of a specific violation of the rules or
other manner of infraction that is awarded to the violator in
order to draw attention to eir disregard for the rule of law
and, depending on the type of Card, to impose a penalty.
Cards CANNOT be issued except by players by announcement. Any
attempt to issue a Card, or any intent for a dependent action to
issue a Card, is INEFFECTIVE if it does not include the
following information:
- The type of Card being issued,
- The person to whom the Card is being issued (the bad sport),
and
- The specific action, inaction of the bad sport giving rise to
the Card (the reason).
Issuing Cards is secured with power threshold 1.7.
The types of Card are defined by the rules. A type of Card may
have a defined set of circumstances for which it is appropriate,
as well as a penalty which takes effect when a Card of that type
is issued. Unless otherwise specified by the rule defining a
type of Card, that Card type's penalty and circumstances for
which it is appropriate are secured at the power threshold of
that rule.
A person SHALL NOT issue a Card unless:
- the reason is appropriate for the type of Card being issued;
- there has not already been a Card issued for that reason; and
- the reason occurred within the 14 days preceding the issuance
of the Card or, when the Card arises out of any manner of
official proceeding, the initiation of that proceeding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2477/1 (Power=1)
The Referee
The Referee is an office; its holder is responsible for keeping
track of and adjudicating wrongdoing. The Referee's weekly
report includes a list of all Cards issued within the past 90
days and the reasons therefor, as well as a list of all
penalties due to Cards that are still in effect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2478/1 (Power=1.7)
Vigilante Justice
A player CAN by announcement, but subject to the provisions of
this rule, Point eir Finger at a player, citing an alleged
violation of the rules by that player.
When a player Points a Finger, the investigator SHALL
investigate the allegation and, in a timely fashion, SHALL
conclude the investigation by:
- issuing a Card to the pointed-at player by announcement whose
reason is rooted in the allegation;
- if e believes that no rules violation occurred or that it
would be ILLEGAL to issue a Card for it, announcing the
Finger Pointing to be Shenanigans.
The Referee is by default the investigator for all Finger
Pointing. When a Finger, other than the Arbitor's, is Pointed
over an allegation related to the official duties or powers of
the Referee, then the Arbitor CAN, by announcement, take over
the investigation and thereby become the investigator.
A player CANNOT point a finger more than twice per Agoran week,
or more than once per Agoran week at the same player.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2479/0 (Power=1.7)
Official Justice
The Referee CAN, subject to the provisions of this rule, impose
Summary Judgment on a player by issuing a card to em by
announcement.
The Referee CANNOT Point eir Finger or impose Summary Judgment
more than five total times per week, or more than twice per week
at or on the same player.
As part of the Referee's weekly duties, e SHALL either impose
Summary Judgment on a player or truthfully announce that e
believes that there are no rules violations in the preceding
Agoran week for which a Card has not already been issued.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2474/0 (Power=0.5)
Green Cards
A Green Card is a type of Card that is appropriate for minor,
accidental, and/or inconsequential infraction. A Green Card is
also appropriate for any infraction for which no other type of
Card is appropriate. When a person is issued a Green Card, they
are ENCOURAGED to travel to the United States.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2427/2 (Power=2)
Yellow Cards
A Yellow Card is a type of Card that is appropriate either for infractions
that have a significant, though small, impact on gameplay or for
infractions for which a Green Card has already been issued.
When a Yellow Card is issued, the bad sport SHOULD publish a formal
apology of at least 200 words explaining eir error, shame, remorse, and
ardent desire for self-improvement. A player issuing a Yellow Card MAY,
when doing so, additionally specify up to 10 words to be included in the
apology. Until e publishes such an apology, as a penalty, the bad sport's
voting strength on all Agoran decisions initiated within 30 days of the
Card's issuance is set to 0 after modifiers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2475/0 (Power=2)
Red Cards
A Red Card is a type of Card that is appropriate for serious and
deliberate violations of the rules. A Red Card is also
appropriate for a person who appears to be part of an attempt in
bad faith to swarm Agora and outpower the regular players in
voting strength.
When a Red Card is issued, as a penalty, within the next 7 days,
any player CAN once, with 2 Support, Throw the Book at the bad
sport. When the Book is Thrown at the bad sport, eir voting
strength on all Agoran decisions initiated during the first
Agoran week which begins at least four days after the issuance
of the Card is reduced by 2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2476/0 (Power=1)
Pink Slips
A Pink Slip is a type of Card that is appropriate for abuses of
official power for personal gain. A Pink Slip CANNOT be issued
unless the reason indicates the specific office or offices whose
power was abused.
When a Pink Slip is issued, as a penalty, within the next 7
days, any player CAN, with 2 Support, become the holder of one
or more of those offices still held by the bad sport.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Winning
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2449/2 (Power=3)
Winning the Game
When the Rules state that a person or persons win the game,
those persons win the game; specifically they win the Round
that ends with the indicated win. Agora itself does not end and
the ruleset remains unchanged. The Herald is then authorized to
award those persons the Patent Title of Champion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2448/3 (Power=1)
Eras
An Era is a period of time that has a defined start, either
has a defined end or is still ongoing, and has been initiated
as specified by this rule.
Upon the initiation of an Era, each existing Ephemeral Rule
(in the order they were created) is repealed, unless the
initiation specifies otherwise.
A player CAN initiate a new Era with Agoran Consent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 103/23 (Power=2)
The Speaker
The Speaker is an imposed office and the figurehead leader of
Agora.
The player or players who have most recently won the game are
called Laureled. If at any time the office of Speaker is vacant,
or when one or more players win Agora, then the Prime Minister
CAN and SHALL, once and in a timely fashion, appoint a Laureled
player to the office of Speaker.
If the office of Speaker has been held continuously by the same
person for 90+ days, then any player CAN appoint another player
to the office with Support.
For an election of the Prime Minister, the Speaker has voting
strength one greater than e would have if e did not hold the
office.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2452/2 (Power=0.5)
Trust Tokens
Any player can issue a Trust Token to another person by
announcement.
When the Assessor resolves a Decision to adopt a proposal, then
any player who cast a valid vote on the Decision and was
endorsed by another player's valid vote on the Decision is
issued a Trust Token by the endorsing player.
A person can win the game by announcement if e has been issued a
Trust Token by each player except emself; if no person has won
via this mechanism in the past; and if in the same message, e
quotes, for each of those players, a public message in which
that player issued em a Trust Token.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2465/0 (Power=0.3)
Victory by Apathy
A player CAN Declare Apathy without objection, specifying a set
of players. Upon doing so, the specified players win the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2482/0 (Power=0.5)
Victory Elections
If nobody has done so in the previous 180 days, the Herald CAN
initiate a Victory Election, a type of Agoran decision. On such
a decision, all players are valid options; non-player persons
can also become valid options during the voting period by
announcement. The vote collector is the Herald, and the voting
method is instant runoff.
Upon the resolution of the decision, if the outcome is a person,
then that person wins the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2438/5 (Power=3)
Ribbons
The Tailor is an office, and the recordkeepor of Ribbons.
Ribbon Ownership is a person switch, tracked by the Tailor in
his monthly report, whose values are the subsets of the set of
types of Ribbon, defaulting to the empty set.
To "award a person a <Ribbon type>" is to add that type of
Ribbon to that person's Ribbon Ownership. A person "owns a
<Ribbon type>" if that type of Ribbon is an element of eir
Ribbon Ownership.
While a person qualifies for a type of Ribbon, any player can
generally award em that type of Ribbon. A person qualifies for a
type of Ribbon if e has earned that type of Ribbon within the
preceding 7 days (including earlier in the same message) and has
not owned that type of Ribbon within the preceding 7 days.
While a person owns all types of Ribbon, that person can Raise a
Banner by announcement. This causes that person to win the game.
That person's Ribbon Ownership becomes the empty set.
The types of Ribbon, and the methods of obtaining them, are as
follows:
Red (R): When a proposal is adopted and changes at least one
rule with Power >= 3, its proposer earns a Red Ribbon.
Orange (O): When a proposal is adopted via an Agoran Decision on
which no valid votes were AGAINST, its proposer earns an Orange
Ribbon.
Green (G): While a person has held an elected office
continuously for 30 days, and has not failed to perform any
duties of that office within the appropriate time limits during
those 30 days, that person qualifies for a Green Ribbon.
Cyan (C): When a person deputises for an office, that person
earns a Cyan Ribbon.
Blue (B): When a person assigns a judgement to a CFJ, and has
never violated a time limit to assign a judgement to that CFJ,
that person earns a Blue Ribbon.
Magenta (M): During Agora's Birthday, each person who has
publicly acknowledged the fact qualifies for a Magenta Ribbon.
Ultraviolet (U): When a person is awarded the Patent Title
Champion, that person earns an Ultraviolet Ribbon.
Violet (V): When a person is awarded a Patent Title other than
Champion or a degree, that person earns a Violet Ribbon.
Indigo (I): When a person is awarded a degree, that person earns
an Indigo Ribbon.
Platinum (P): The Speaker qualifies for a Platinum Ribbon.
Lime (L): A person qualifies for a Lime Ribbon if three or more
proposals adopted in the preceding 7 days had that person as a
coauthor.
White (W): A player qualifies for a White Ribbon if e has never
previously owned a White Ribbon (including under previous
rulesets). A player who has been registered for at least 30 days
and has never caused another person to gain a White Ribbon
(including under a previous ruleset) CAN award a White Ribbon to
another person by announcement.
Black (K): This rule does not specify any methods of obtaining
Black Ribbons.
Gray (A): The Tailor CAN award a Gray Ribbon by announcement,
unless e has done so earlier in the month. E is ENCOURAGED to
award such a Ribbon in the same message in which e publishes eir
monthly report.
Transparent (T): A person qualifies for a Transparent Ribbon
while the number of other types of Ribbon that that person
qualifies for and/or has earned within the previous 7 days is at
least 5.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 649/37 (Power=1.5)
Patent Titles
A Patent Title is a legal title given to a person in recognition
of the person's distinction. The Herald is an office; its
holder is responsible for tracking Patent Titles in eir monthly
report.
Awarding or revoking a Patent Title is secured. A person
permitted and enabled to award (revoke) a Patent Title SHALL do
so in a timely fashion after the conditions authorizing em to do
so are announced, unless there is an open judicial case
contesting the validity of those conditions.
The Herald CAN award a specified Patent Title to a specified
player With 2 Agoran Consent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2444/2 (Power=1)
Silver Quill
The Silver Quill is an annual award designed to honor the
authors of proposals of outstanding merit and influence on the
game.
In a timely fashion after the end of each Agoran Year, the
Herald SHALL initiate and Agoran Decision to determine which
Proposal has most greatly influenced that (ending) year of play.
For this decision, the valid options are all proposals adopted
between November 1 of the year prior to the ending year, and
October 31 of the ending year. The vote collector is the
Herald, and the voting method is instant runoff.
Players are ENCOURAGED to discuss which eligible proposals best
satisfy the aforementioned criteria. Proposals submitted by new
players SHOULD be given somewhat higher weight, but the primary
reference should be the proposals themselves and their effect on
the game since adoption.
Upon the resolution of the decision, if the outcome is not
FAILED QUORUM and there were at least three votes containing it
in any preference slot, that proposal wins the Ceremony, and the
Herald is authorized to award its author the Patent Title of
"Silver Quill YYYY, substituting the ending year; otherwise,
there is no winner.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2415/0 (Power=1.5)
Badges
A Badge is any patent title with the word 'badge' as part of
its name. A badge SHOULD be used to award multiple persons for
participating in specific event of note within Agora. Any
player CAN award a badge that does not yet exist to three or
more persons simultaneously, with Agoran Consent. The Herald
CAN award an existing badge to persons Without Objection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1367/19 (Power=3)
Degrees
Certain patent titles are known as degrees. The degrees are
- Associate of Nomic (A.N.)
- Bachelor of Nomic (B.N.)
- Master of Nomic (M.N.)
- Doctor of Nomic History (D.N.Hist.)
- Doctor of Nomic Science (D.N.Sci.)
- Doctor of Nomic Philosophy (D.N.Phil.)
Degrees are ranked in the order they appear in this rule, with
degrees listed later being ranked higher. A specific degree
CANNOT be awarded to any person more than once.
A specified degree CAN be awarded with 2 Agoran Consent, and
SHOULD only be awarded for the publication of an original
thesis of scholarly worth (including responses to peer-review),
published with explicit intent to qualify for a degree. The
Herald SHOULD coordinate the peer-review process and the
awarding of degrees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2231/5 (Power=3)
Order of the Hero of Agora Nomic
Heroic titles are Agora's premier patent titles of distinction,
and CAN be awarded to persons for meritorious service only by a
proposal of power 3 or greater, which SHOULD explain why those
persons are qualified. Bearers of heroic titles (Heroes)
constitute the Order of the Hero of Agora Nomic.
The Heroic titles in decreasing precedence are:
Grand Hero of Agora Nomic (GHAN) -- This title may be awarded to
any person obviously and directly responsible for the existence
of Agora and/or Nomic in general. As this title is the highest
honour that Agora may bestow, a Bearer of this title OUGHT to be
treated right good forever.
Hero of Agora Nomic (HAN) -- This title may be awarded to any
person for outstanding meritorious service to Agora above and
beyond the call of duty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
The Prime Minister
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2423/3 (Power=2)
First Among Equals
The Prime Minister is an office. The Prime Minister is elected
by the players of Agora primarily on account of not being the
other guy. The Prime Minister SHOULD ensure that Agoran affairs
proceed smoothly.
The holder of the office of Prime Minister's voting strength is
increased by 1 on all Agoran decisions other than a elections of
the Prime Minister.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2463/0 (Power=1)
Motion of No Confidence
Any player can cause the office of Prime Minister to become
vacant with 2 Agoran Consent by publishing a message with the
character string "MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE" in the subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2451/3 (Power=1.7)
Executive Orders
Once per week and except as otherwise forbidden by this
rule, the current Prime Minister CAN issue a Cabinet Order
and perform the action(s) authorized by that Order.
Each Cabinet Order is associated with an office. The current
Prime Minister CANNOT issue more than one Cabinet Order
associated with the same office more than once in the same
month, nor can e issue a Cabinet Order associated with a
vacant office.
The available Cabinet Orders are:
- Certiorari (Arbitor): The Prime Minister assigns emself as
judge of a specified open case.
- Dive (Referee): The Prime Minister issues a specified Card to
a specified player. The reason for the card MAY be any
grievance held by the Prime Minister, not necessarily a
violation of the rules, against the person to whom the Card is
issued.
- Manifesto (Promotor): The Prime Minister distributes a
specified proposal in the Proposal Pool.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Obligations
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2450/2 (Power=1.7)
Pledges
A player SHALL NOT break eir own publicly-made pledges.
A pledge may be considered broken if the pledger does not complete it
in a timely manner after it becomes possible to do so. A pledge may be
considered broken at the moment the pledger engages in conduct
proscribed by that pledge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2467/4 (Power=1)
Agencies
An Agency is a document empowering persons to act on behalf of another
player. A player MAY establish an Agency With 24 hours Notice, and thereby
become its Director, by specifying the properties of the new Agency,
provided e has not established any other Agency that day:
1. A title, which must be exactly three words, not counting
conjunctions, articles or prepositions.
2. A non-empty list of persons other than the Director (the Agents).
3. A description of a set of actions (the Powers).
An Agency's Director may amend its properties or revoke it with 24 hours
Notice. For greater certainty, an announced intent to create an Agency or
amend an Agency's powers is INEFFECTIVE unless it explicitly specifies the
new values of the properties being created or amended.
The Powers of an Agency must be stated as actions, although they may may
be conditional on date, time, game state, or other preconditions. If
condition(s) are specified as necessary for a power to be used, it is
limited; otherwise, it is unlimited. If it attempts to specify a power in
a manner that is unclear, ambiguous, circular, inconsistent, paradoxical,
or that depends on information that is impossible or unreasonably
difficult to determine, then the specification of that power is invalid,
and it CANNOT be used.
An Agency, once created, SHOULD be referred to by the acronym formed from
its title with conjunctions, articles, and prepositions removed. The
acronym of an agency must be unique and any attempt to create or amend an
Agency such that two Agencies would have the same acronym is INEFFECTIVE.
The Agents of an Agency may perform the Actions described in the Powers of
the Agency on behalf of the Agency's Director.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2468/2 (Power=1)
Superintendent
The Superintendent is an office; its holder is responsible for
keeping track of Agencies.
The Superintendent's weekly report includes:
- the Director and acronym of all Agencies,
- the full properties of all Agencies created since the
Superintendent's previous report.
- the amended properties of all Agencies whose properties were
amended since the Superintendent's previous report.
The Superintendent's monthly report includes the Director and
properties of all Agencies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Holidays, Events & History
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2327/1 (Power=1)
Read the Ruleset Week
The first Agoran week each year which falls entirely in February
is Read the Ruleset Week. Agorans are encouraged to read the
ruleset during Read the Ruleset Week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1727/19 (Power=1)
Happy Birthday
WHEREAS, in June 1993, the world's only MUD-based nomic, Nomic
World, had recently collapsed; yet, many of its players enjoyed
nomic and did not wish to forego such a noble pursuit;
And WHEREAS, Originator Chuck Carroll therefore composed an
Initial Ruleset for an email nomic, based on the Initial
Rulesets of Peter Suber, inventor of Nomic, and on the Rulesets
of Nomic World and other nomics,
And WHEREAS, a nomic thus rose like a phoenix from the ashes of
Nomic World, played on the mailing list originally set up for
discussion of Nomic World, and coming into existence at June 30,
1993, 00:04:30 GMT +1200, with a message sent by FIRST SPEAKER
Michael Norrish, which read, in part,
> "I see no reason to let this get bogged down; there are no
> precedents or rules that cover this situation, so I think we
> may as well begin directly.... Proposals for new rules are
> invited. In accordance with the rules, these will be
> published, numbered and distributed by me at my earliest
> convenience."
And WHEREAS, this nomic began as a humble and nameless nomic,
known unofficially as yoyo, after the mailing list it was played
on, until its Players, much later, gave it its OFFICIAL NAME of
Agora,
And WHEREAS, Agora has now become the wisest, noblest, eldest,
and most interesting of all active email nomics, due to the hard
work and diligence of Agorans as well as the frequent advice of
Agoraphobes,
And WHEREAS, Agorans desire to joyously commemorate Agora's
founding,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Agora's Birthday is defined to be
the entire day of June 30, GMT +1200, of each year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2464/1 (Power=1)
Tournaments
A Tournament is a sub-game of Agora specifically sanctioned
to be initiated as a tournament by the Rules. If a winner of a
tournament is determined within 4 weeks of its initiation, that
person or persons win the game, otherwise the tournament
concludes with no winner. A Tournament is governed by a special temporary
title of the ACORN, created in accordance with its parent rule,
which have binding control over those who freely agree to play the
tournament
and over the tournament itself. Once the tournament is concluded, these
regulations cease to have any effect, and may be repealed by any player by
announcement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 1769/13 (Power=3)
Holidays
The period each year from midnight GMT on the morning of 24
December to the beginning of the first Agoran week to begin
after 2 January is a Holiday.
The week that contains the beginning of Agora's Birthday,
together with the following week, is a Holiday.
If a person breaks a Rule by missing a deadline that occurs
during a Holiday, punishment is generally not appropriate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Organizations
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2459/3 (Power=1.2)
Organizations
An Organization is a type of entity. The following changes are
secured: creating, modifying, or destroying an Organization; and
causing an entity to become an Organization or cease to be an
Organization.
The Income Cap is 100.
Budget is a switch belonging to (Organization, player) pairs
(i.e. there is one instance of the switch for each combination
of an Organization and a player), tracked by the Secretary,
whose legal values are integers from 0 to the Income Cap
inclusive, defaulting to 0. An Organization's Income is the
total value of all Budget switches for pairs that include that
Organization. A player's Expenditure is the total value of all
Budget switches for pairs that include that player. Changes to
Budget are secured.
A "member" of an Organization is a player for which the pair
consisting of that Organization and that player has a nonzero
Budget.
It is IMPOSSIBLE, by any means, for a player to become a member
of an Organization, or for an organization to be created with a
player as a member, without that player's explicit, willful
consent. This rule takes precedence over any rule that might
make such a change possible.
A member of an Organization CAN perform any action the rules authorize that
Organization to perform, if the Organization's charter states that doing so
is Appropriate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2461/2 (Power=1.2)
Death and Birth of Organizations
The Income Floor is 50.
If an Organization's Income is ever lower than the Income Floor,
then any player CAN destroy it by announcement, and the Secretary
SHALL do so in a timely fashion if the situation persists.
If a player's Expenditure is at most the Income Cap minus the
Income Floor, and e is not on Lockout, then e CAN create an
Organization by announcement, specifying a name for that
Organization that is unique among Organizations, and a Charter.
When an organization is created this way, its Charter is set to
the value that e specified, and the Budget switch for that
player and Organization is set to the Income Floor.
Notwithstanding the above, a player CANNOT create more than one
Organization in a day, and CANNOT create Organizations while e
is a member of an Organization with an Income lower than the
Income Floor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2460/1 (Power=1.2)
Organizational Restructuring
Charter is an Organization switch, tracked by the Secretary in
eir monthly report, whose legal values are texts, and with
default value "An amendment to this Organization is Appropriate
if intent to perform it was announced between 4 and 14 days ago,
and no members of the Organization have publicly objected to it
since."
A change to an instance of a Budget or Charter switch is known
as an "amendment" to the Organization to which that instance of
the switch applies. Each amendment to an Organization is
considered to be either Appropriate or Inappropriate. An
Organization's Charter SHOULD contain a method of determining
the appropriateness of amendments to that Organization.
If a Charter does not specify the appropriateness of an
amendment to its Organization, or if it attempts to specify the
appropriateness of such an amendment but in a way that is
unclear, ambiguous, circular, inconsistent, paradoxical, or that
depends on information that is impossible or unreasonably
difficult to determine, the amendment is Inappropriate;
otherwise, it is Appropriate if and only if the Charter
specifies that it is.
Organizations can be amended as follows:
1. A member of an Organization CAN flip that Organization's
Charter by announcement, if doing so is Appropriate, and that
member is not on Lockout.
2. Any player CAN flip a Budget Switch by announcement, if doing
so is Appropriate and the player is not on Lockout, except
where other rules prevent this.
3. A member of an Organization CAN flip that Organization's
Charter without objection, even if doing so is Inappropriate,
as long as that member is not on Lockout. Players SHOULD only
use this mechanism to recover from situations where the
Charter is underspecified or has unintended effects.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2456/2 (Power=1)
The Secretary
The Secretary is an office. The Secretary's weekly report
includes:
1. A list of which persons are on Personal Lockout.
2. The time at which each person on Personal Lockout comes off
Lockout.
3. Whether Agora is on Global Lockout, and if so, when it ends.
4. A list of all Organizations and their Income.
5. Each player's Expenditure.
The Secretary's monthly report includes:
1. Each Organization's Charter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2457/0 (Power=1.2)
Lockout
There is such a thing as a Lockout Event, which can happen
either to a person or to Agora as a whole. Lockout Events only
happen when a Rule with power 1 or greater explicitly states
that they happen.
A person is on Personal Lockout if a Lockout Event happened to
that person within the past 90 days.
Agora is on Global Lockout if a Lockout Event happened to Agora
as a whole within the past 7 days.
A person is on Lockout if that person is on Personal Lockout,
Agora is on Global Lockout, or both. A person is "off Lockout"
if that person is not on Lockout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2458/0 (Power=1.2)
Invoking Lockout
A player who is not on Lockout can Invoke Lockout by
announcement.
When a player Invokes Lockout, a Lockout Event happens to that
player and a Lockout Event happens to Agora as a whole.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2462/5 (Power=1.7)
Bankruptcy
While a player's Expenditure exceeds the Income Cap, then any
player CAN cause that player to become Bankrupt by announcement,
and the Secretary SHALL do so in a timely fashion if the
situation persists.
When a player becomes Bankrupt:
1. All Budget switches for pairs including that player are
flipped to 0.
2. The Secretary CAN, and SHALL in a timely manner, award that
player a Yellow Card.
3. A Lockout Event happens to that player.
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======================================================================
Estates
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Rule 2489/1 (Power=2)
Estates
An Estate is a type of indestructable liquid asset, which can be owned by
players, organizations, and Agora. The following changes are secured:
creating, modifying, or destroying an Estate; and causing an
entity to become an Estate or cease to be an Estate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2488/1 (Power=1)
The Surveyor
The Surveyor is an office, and the recordkeepor of estates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2491/3 (Power=2)
Estate Auctions
During an auction, any player may bid a number of Shinies on eir own
behalf by announcement, or on behalf of any Organization for which such a
bid is Appropriate by announcement, provided the bid is higher than any
previously-placed bid in the same auction.
If, at the end of the auction, there is a single highest bid, then that
player or Organization wins the auction. The player who placed the winning
bid CAN cause Agora to transfer the auctioned Estate to the winner by
announcement, by paying Agora the amount of the bid, or by causing the
winning Organization to pay Agora the amount of the bid. E SHALL do so in
a timely fashion.
If, at the end of the auction, there is a single highest bid, then that
player or Organization wins the auction. The player who placed the winning
bid CAN cause Agora to transfer the auctioned Estate to the winner by
announcement, by paying Agora the amount of the bid, or by causing the
winning Organization to pay Agora the amount of the bid. E SHALL do so in
a timely fashion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2490/0 (Power=3)
Estate Ballots
During any Agoran Decision, a player who owns one or more
Estates can, by announcement, expend any number of their owned
Estates on the Agoran Decision by transferring that Estate to
Agora. Eir voting strength on that decision is increased by 1
for each Estate expended on it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Shinies
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2483/3 (Power=2)
Economics
Shinies (sg. shiny) are an indestructible liquid currency, and the official
currency of Agora. They may be owned by Agora, any player, or any
organization. The Secretary is the recordkeepor for Shinies.
The Secretary CAN cause Agora to pay any player or organization by
announcement if doing so is specified by a rule.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2487/1 (Power=2)
Shiny Supply Level
The Supply Level is 1000.
When a Shiny Releveling event occurs, Agora's Balance is increased
or decreased such that all Balances add up to the Supply Level.
When the Supply level Changes, a Shiny Releveling event occurs.
The Secretary may cause a Shiny Releveling event to occur without 3
Objections.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2485/1 (Power=1)
You can't take it with you
"Heir" is a person switch, tracked by the Registrar, whose value
is either empty or the name of a player or Organization. Each
person's Heir is empty by default. A player may flip eir Heir by
announcement.
When a player is deregistered, if eir Heir switch is not empty,
e automatically pays all of eir Balance to the named player or
Organization, and transfers all of eir Estates to the named
player or Organization. Otherwise, if eir Heir switch is empty,
e may specify another player, an Organization, or Agora, and pay
all of eir Balance and transfer all of eir Estates to the
specified player or Organization. If the player does not do so
within 1 day of deregistration, the Registrar CAN and SHALL
cause that player to pay eir Balance to Agora and to transfer
all of eir Estates to Agora, by announcement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2496/0 (Power=1)
Rewards
A Reward is a specified amount of shinies associated with a Reward
Condition. For each time a player meets a Reward Condition, e MAY
claim the specified award exactly once within 24 hours of meeting the
Reward Condition.
When a player 'claims' a Reward, Agora transfers the specified number
of shinies to the player.
Below is an exhaustive list of Reward Conditions and eir rewards:
* The following two only apply to proposals that were pended via
spending shinies:
- Being the author of an adopted proposal: 1/40th the current
Floating Value.
- Being the pender of an adopted proposal: 1/40th the current
Floating Value.
* Judging a CFJ, that was created via spending shinies, that e was
assigned to: 1/20th the current Floating Value.
* Publishing a duty-fulfilling report: 5 shinies.
* Resolving an Agoran Decision for the first time this week: 5
shinies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2498/0 (Power=1)
Economic Wins
Stamps are an asset, identified by eir creator and tracked by the
Secretary.
The Stamp Value is always 1/5th the current Floating Value.
Once per month, a player MAY, by announcement, transfer to Agora the
Stamp Value, in shinies, to create a Stamp.
Players MAY, by announcement, destroy a Stamp and cause Agora to
transfer the Stamp Value, in shinies, to em.
While a player has Stamps made by at least 10 different players e MAY
destroy 10 stamps made by 10 different players by announcement to win
the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2497/0 (Power=1)
Floating Value
Floating Value is a natural switch. When e publishes eir Weekly Report, the
Secretary SHALL flip the Floating Value to Agora's shiny balance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2499/0 (Power=1)
Welcome Packages
If a player has not received a Welcome Package since e most recently
registered, any player MAY cause em to receive one by announcement.
When a player receives a Welcome Package, Agora transfers 50 shinies
to em.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Festivals
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2480/0 (Power=2.1)
Festivals
Festivity is a singleton switch, whose possible values are integers
ranging from 0 inclusive to the number of defined types of Ribbon
exclusive, and defaulting to 0. While Agora's Festivity is 0,
Festivity is tracked in the Tailor's monthly report. Otherwise, it
is tracked in the Tailor's weekly report. Changes to Festivity are
secured.
If Agora's Festivity has had the same nonzero value for 14 days or
more, any player may flip it to 0 by announcement.
A player who owns at least N types of Ribbon may Start a Rank N
Festival, where N is an integer greater than Agora's Festivity,
with 4 Support from players who own at least N types of Ribbon.
Upon doing so, Agora's Festivity is flipped to N. Exception: A
player may not do so if Agora's Festivity has had a value greater
than or equal to N within the past 21 days.
A person who owns a number of types of Ribbon equal to or greater
than Agora's Festivity is known as Festive. Other persons are not
Festive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2481/1 (Power=2.1)
Festival Restrictions
While Agora's Festivity is nonzero, the following apply:
1. Non-Festive players are never considered Supporters of a
dependent action;
2. Non-Festive players cannot flip the Imminence of any
proposal;
3. Quorum for Agoran Decisions is equal to half the number of
Festive players, rounded up;
4. Each Festive player has the maximum possible voting
strength. All other players have the minimum possible voting
strength.
While Agora's Festivity is zero, the paragraphs above have no
effect and are ignored.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Miscelaneous
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2471/0 (Power=1)
No Faking
A person SHALL NOT attempt to perform an action which e knows is
IMPOSSIBLE so as to deceive others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2446/4 (Power=1)
The Agoran Newspaper
The Reportor is an office.
The Reportor's weekly report includes:
1. A suitable name for a newspaper, at the Reportor's
discretion.
2. A description of events that have happened since the last
report that the Reportor believes significant or
interesting.
3. Any editorialization or other pieces of Agora-related
information the Reportor pleases, as long as it is neither
i) factually incorrect nor ii) disrespectful to any person
or Agora itself.
While meeting these requirements, the Reportor may format eir
report however e pleases.
The Reportor should keep in mind that the goal of eir weekly
report is to create a more informed population.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 104/0 (Power=3)
First Speaker
The Speaker for the first game shall be Michael Norrish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2029/0 (Power=4)
Town Fountain
/\ /\
/ \ / \
T
his
Power-4
Rule (the first ever)
was placed to honor
The Agoran Spirit Of The Game
by Goethe, Steve, Murphy, root
and OscarMeyr, Scamsters. Look
on our works, ye Marvy, but do
always Dance a Powerful Dance. Hail Eris!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 2495/0 (Power=1)
The Birthday Tournament
In a timely fashion after the start of June 1 of each year,
the Herald SHALL propose a set of Regulations governing a
Birthday Tournament for that year; the Herald CAN also
delegate the responsibility for creating or running the
tournament to another player, with that player's consent.
The Birthday Tournament's regulations SHOULD be such that all
persons who choose to participate have a fair chance of winning
the tournament (according to its regulations), and a winner
SHOULD be expected within 2-3 weeks following the tournament's
initiation.
After adequate time for discussion of the Birthday Tournament's
regulations, the Herald (or delegate) CAN initiate a sanctioned
tournament with a specified, finalized set of regulations,
Without 3 Objections. By doing so e promulgates those regulations as a
special temporary title of the ACORN. This title may thereafter be amended
only by the Herald or eir designee without objection, to correct minor
typos.
The initiation SHOULD be timed to coincide with Agora's Birthday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Highest Rule ID number ever assigned: Rule 2504
Last Ruleset Ratification:
Short Logical Ruleset of 2014-04-07
END OF THE SHORT LOGICAL RULESET
