# Proposal procedure

**URL:** https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-procedure/1528
**Category:** Governance
**Created:** [4 August 2026 07:58 UTC](https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-procedure/1528 "2026-08-04T07:58:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![asm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@asm](https://datashield.discourse.group/u/asm)
#### Post date: [4 August 2026 07:58 UTC](https://datashield.discourse.group/t/proposal-procedure/1528/1 "2026-08-04T07:58:27Z")

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This post summarises the Community’s decision-making process as of the beginning of August 2026.

For clarity, “Q is half of the square root of the number of current Voting Members. K is Q or 5, whichever is the smaller. Q and K need not be integers and are not rounded.” (REFERENCE: Section 8, item 8 of the [Constitution](https://wiki.datashield.org/en/about/constitution)). The current number of [Voting Members](https://wiki.datashield.org/en/about/voting-members) is **29**.

## Procedure for proposing a resolution and for voting on it

This is a summary of the procedure for making proposals for resolutions and then voting on them, as per the Decision-making procedure (Section 8) and Standard Resolution Procedure (Section 9) sections of the [Constitution](https://wiki.datashield.org/en/about/constitution).

1. A proposal is made. Normally this should be by a proposer and _K_ seconders, but a proposal is accepted straight away (i.e. without seconders) if it is made by the Steering Committee.

2. There is a Discussion Period. The normal time for this is 2 weeks, with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4 weeks.

3. Following this, the “Steering Committee Secretary (or appropriate other neutral person agreed by the Steering Committee or Advisory Board; hereafter referred to only as the Steering Committee Secretary)” must call for a vote within 7 days.

4. “The voting period is 2 weeks, but may be decreased by 1 week or increased by up to a maximum of 2 weeks (i.e. a maximum of 4 weeks in total).”

## Eligibility to vote

Participation in the vote is restricted to [Voting Members](https://wiki.datashield.org/en/about/voting-members) of the Community.