Wikipedia:Ambassadors/Steering Committee/Ambassador Recall Process

This policy is to help formalize the process for recalling a Wikipedia Ambassador from their position with Ambassador Program, during their term as an Ambassador.

Who may begin the Recall Process

Although any Wikipedian could, in theory, begin this process, it is more likely that those most involved in this process will be directly involved in the Wikipedia Ambassador program, such as Pod Members (Students and Professors) or members of the Wikipedia Ambassador team, who believe the Ambassador in question is not performing their duties correctly.

Before Beginning the Formal Process

It is the hope of the Steering Committee that this process is to be used sparingly, hence it is highly recommended that before beginning the formal process of recalling an Ambassador, any Wikipedian follow these (optional) steps.

Talk with the Ambassador in Question

The first step in the informal process is to check the presented evidence and simply talk with the Ambassador that you may have an issue with. In many cases, politely bringing up the issue(s) with the Ambassador whom you or the requesting third party believe to incorrectly performing their duties as an Ambassador may resolve the issue(s) before the formal process is required.

Talk with the Ambassador's Regional Ambassador

In the case where a discussion with the Ambassador was unable to resolve the issue(s) at hand, it is recommended to bring the Ambassador's Regional Ambassador in to act as a mediator. The Regional Ambassador will then try to mediate the situation before beginning the formal process.

If the Regional Ambassador believes the underlining issue(s) stems from personality conflicts, they will have the right, but not the obligation, to assign the Ambassador involved in the informal process to another role within their Region.

Special Case: Where the Ambassador in Question is a Regional Ambassador

In the case where the Ambassador you wish to recall is a Regional Ambassador, please follow the same informal process but instead use one of the members of the Steering Committee as your mediator.

The Formal Process

The formal process requires that the person(s) wishing to recall an Ambassador submit their case for recall to the Steering Committee. In most cases, the Steering Committee will vote on the matter during their next bi-weekly Meeting; in exceptional cases, the Committee may hold an emergency meeting to resolve the matter.

How to Contact the Steering Committee

It is asked that any individual wishing to start the formal process must contact in writing at least two (if not all) members of the Committee (to insure a timely response) with their case. Steering Committee members contacted in this manner will have the duty to perform the following:

Respond to the individual as soon as possible that they have received the request for Recall
Forward on to other Steering Committee Members the request for Recall
Add the Request for Recall to the next Steering Committee's Agenda
Inform the Ambassador in question that they have been nominated to be Recalled and have the opportunity to respond to the matter
Inform the appropriate Regional Ambassador that one of their Ambassadors is in the Formal Recall Process

Note: At this point the Regional Ambassador shall appoint a temporary Ambassador to handle the duties of the Ambassador up for Recall. Upon appointment of this temporary Ambassador, the Ambassador up for Recall shall be deemed temporarily in-active and relieved of their duties, until the case is resolved.
Note: In the case that the Ambassador that is up for Recall is the Regional Ambassador, the Steering Committee will temporarily appoint another member of the Wikipedian Ambassador program to their post.

Steering Committee Votes

After the Steering Committee has determined the appropriate meeting to handle the Request for Recall, they will discuss and vote on the request. The Steering Committee will have the ability to choose between one of three verdicts when voting: Expulsion of the Ambassador from the Program; Re-Assignment of the Ambassador to another post; or Dismiss the Request for Recall.

In the case where the Steering Committee is unable to achieve a simple majority (50% + 1 - ie: 3 out of 5) on the first vote, a second vote will take place, eliminating all but the two most popular options. In the case, where the Steering Committee remains tied on the second round of voting, the Committee Chair will cast the deciding vote.

In order for the Steering Committees' to vote to be binding the following condition must be met:

The Ambassador up for recall must have had at least 7 days to state their case to the Steering Committee

Note: The 7 day process will become void after the receipt of a response from the Ambassador up for Recall
Note: In the case where the Ambassador does not submit any response to the Steering Committee, the Committee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to presume the Ambassador has resigned their position within the program
Note: If any 3rd parties wish to bring additional information to the attention of the committee they must do so in writing, within this same time frame

After the Ruling is Made

If the Steering Committee does remove the Ambassador from their position, the Ambassador will be expelled from the program and will not be able to re-apply to the program for a period of at least one year (unless otherwise stated by the Committee).
If the Steering Committee believes the Ambassador has resigned their post, the Ambassador will be removed from their position, with no restrictions on when they may re-apply for the Program.
If the Steering Committee believes it is best to assign the Ambassador to a new role within the program, the Ambassador will be deemed temporary inactive until given a replacement role by the Steering Committee.
If the Steering Committee does not remove the Ambassador from their position, the Ambassador shall have the right but not the obligation to return to their former position. If the Ambassador chooses to not return to their former position, the Steering Committee will have the right, but not the obligation, to find a replacement role for the Ambassador.
After the ruling is made, the Steering Committee will record the vote in the Committee's meeting notes. In addition, the Committee will have the right, but not the obligation, to make both the relevant Pod(s) and other Ambassadors in the program aware of the results of this vote.

Note: In any circumstance that the Steering Committee needs to find a replacement for the Ambassador (or a replacement role), the Committee may, but is not required to, delegate the task to another member of the Wikipedia Ambassador program.

Appealing the Ruling of the Steering Committee

Appeals may be brought forth only by the Ambassador who was Recalled, or the individual(s) who made the formal request. If one of these two parties chooses to appeal, the following will occur:

The appealing party will notify a Regional Ambassador, not involved in either the informal or formal process, within 7 days of the ruling
The chosen Regional Ambassador will inform the Steering Committee of the appeal, and will create a poll for overruling the Committee
A notification will be sent to all Ambassadors falling under the Steering Committee's jurisdiction, informing them of the vote
Voting will last 7 days, and only Ambassadors falling under the Steering Committee's jurisdiction may vote.
At the end of the 7 days, the chosen Regional Ambassador will tabulate the vote, verifying both voter eligibility and compliance with the final vote.

In order for an appeal to be upheld the following must be met:

The appeal must occur within 7 days of the ruling of the Steering Committee
A quorum of at least 25% (ie: 3 out of 10, or 5 out of 20) of all Ambassadors must vote
At least 2/3rds of those voting (ie: 7 out of 10, or 14 out of 21) must agree to overrule the Steering Committee.
Steering Committee Members may voice their opinion on the matter, but will be ineligible to vote