AsioTec Constitution

 This social contract, named later as a Constitution is intended to clearly describe the overall development policies and standards of the AsioTec projects development teams. Parts of this document have been derived from the Debian Social Contract. It is generally very similar to it except that certain parts have been clarified and augmented while other parts deemed redundant have been removed. All the amendments to this social contract must be faithful to the spirit of the Free Software Movement.

1. Introduction

 This constitution has been written by the administrators of the Asio Software Technologies Group and defines how team is to be governed. All team members accept the rules as laid out by this constitution and other documents.

 When we speak about software, we usually mean computer program. We believe that documentation should be treated identically as long as it is primarily concerned with technical issues. However we consider documentation as something distinct from programs.

2. Only Free Software

 We promise that our software will entirely be free and open source as defined by the GNU Project. Users should have the freedom to run the program, for any purpose, study how does it work, redistribute copies and release improvements to the public. All our software will always be open and "free" in the full sense of the word.

4. Our Priorities

 Our projects are deeply concerned with the usability and security. We will be guided by the needs of our software community and users. We will place their interests first in our priorities and support their needs for operation in many different kinds of computing environments. At all times we do our best to keep hype and propaganda to a minimum and try to deliver high quality work that is suitable for use by beginners and computer experts alike. We will not object to non-free works that are intended to be used with our software and/or service, or attempt to charge a fee to people who create or use such works.

4. All Problems Remain Public

 We will keep our entire bug report database open for public view all the times. Reports that people file online will promptly become visible to others. We will not discuss issues in private conversations and no decision will be made privately. However, short delays are acceptable when sensitive information or security concerns are involved. Exceptions are made when we receive security-related or developer relations information with the request not to publicize before a certain deadline.

5. Only True Internet Projects

 Our software are true Internet projects in the utmost sense of the word. All development is open and is discussed and published on the Internet. Communication takes place on our IRC channel.

6. We Support the GNU Philosophy

 We strongly believe in the GNU Philosophy and we will support the GNU Project. For instance, we require that our team members use proper wording and avoid common misconceptions.

7. Non-Free Software Standards

 We acknowledge that some of our users may require the use of works that do not conform to our philosophy and documents, but we have not prepared any `non-free` area for these works. Although non-free works are not a part of AsioTec projects, we support their use and provide infrastructure for them.

8. Slacker Marks

 To ensure that the members stay active, the chosen model says that if a member (or their appointed proxy) fails to show up for two meetings or one month, they are marked as a slacker. If a member who has been marked as a slacker misses any further meeting, or still does not show up for one month, they lose their position in team. The exception are constitutive members.

9. Constitutive Members

 The social structures and community processes of AsioTec are supervised by the Constitutive Members. It is the council that approves the creation of a new team or project, and appointment of projects leaders. In addition, Constitutive Members are the body responsible for the Constitution, Code of Conduct and other documents and tasked with ensuring that maintainers and other community members follow its guidelines.

 Constitutive Members who violate the rules laid out by this constitution or other documents will be immediately suspended from council while being investigated and the ones who are found guilty may be removed. Constitutive Member can be dismissed only by a vote of council, requiring their unanimity. Council Members who are being considered to be dismissed can not have a vote in this matter.

10. Documents Status

 All documents are products of the Asio Software Technologies. They represent the consensus of the AsioTec community. They have to receive public review and have to be approved for publication by the Constitutive Members.

11. Limited Democracy

 If one of us disagrees with another on a decision about team or projects and given that communicates in a reasonable time-span, a vote requiring the absolute majority (51%) will be held among the active members of our team with at least one year seniority. All decisions must conform to this document.

 This Constitution can be amended only by a vote at the absolute majority (51%), requiring unanimity of the Constitutive Members.