Rule 101/9
The Game of Ackanomic
Ackanomic is a self-modifying game of rules. All players must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form in which they are then in effect, and interpreted in accordance with current game custom. The term "rules", as used in the rules, means the rules of Ackanomic.
The rules and the game state may only be changed as described in the rules. Actions described in the rules may only be performed, and shall only have those effects, as specified by the rules. Whatever is not explicitly prohibited or regulated by the rules, however, is permitted and unregulated. Game custom, spirit of the game, and linguistic interpretation are external concepts and are not regulated or part of the game state.
The game consists of a sequence of "Cycles". Cycles end when specified by the Rules. At most one Cycle is in progress at any one time. Cycles of Ackanomic may only be won as described in the rules, and may only be won by voting players. A player may not win the Game of Ackanomic. A player always has the option to leave the Game of Ackanomic.
This rule has precedence over all other rules.
Rule 102/8
Resolving Conflicts
If two or more rules other than this one conflict about a particular issue, and if the rules other than this one (and not restricted to the conflicting rules) specify a single, coherent, unambiguous method for resolving the conflict then that method is applied to determine which rule or rules take precedence with regard to that issue. Otherwise, wherever the rules conflict on a particular issue, the rule with the lowest number among those rules which conflict on that issue shall guide play with regard to that issue.
If two statements in the same rule conflict with each other, and the rule doesn't define a way to resolve the conflict, then the statement which appears later in the rule takes precedence.
If two rules have different base numbers, use the base number to determine which is lowest. Among rules with the same base number, use the sub rule numbers to determine which rule has the lowest number, treating a rule without a sub rule number as if the sub rule number was zero.
Rule 103/12
Retroactive Effects
No rule may generate any effect that applies retroactively to a time before the generation of the effect.
This rule takes precedence over all other rules except those which explicitly claim precedence over this rule mentioning it by both name and number [i.e. not just rules claiming universal precedence].
Rule 104/8
Proposals
A Voting player may submit a proposal by sending its text to the Promoter, who shall then post it publicly to be voted on.
All proposals shall be voted on, unless they are retracted or deemed invalid in accordance with the Rules. In these cases, they are removed from consideration, and are considered to be neither accepted or rejected.
As soon as possible after a proposal's prescribed voting period ends, the votes on that proposal shall be posted publicly. The proposal is then accepted if a quorum has been achieved and the required number of YES votes were cast on the proposal.
If a proposal is accepted, one of two things happen. If the proposal consisted of a list of one-time effects, such as changes to the rules, then those effects shall be applied, one at a time, in the order in which they appear in the proposal. (Ambiguous, retroactive, and/or meaningless effects are ignored.)
Otherwise, the proposal itself changes from a proposal to a rule. [It is assigned a title and number as described in Rules 301 and 303.]
Once a proposal has been properly distributed, none of its text may be altered; likewise, its authorship and time of distribution cannot be changed.
Rule 106/18
Voting on Proposals
Players eligible to vote on proposals may vote either YES, NO or BAA! on each proposal, by sending their vote to the Tabulator. Votes must be unambiguous and unconditional. A Voting Player may also choose not to vote on a proposal, which is called abstaining. Players eligible to vote on proposals who do not vote within the prescribed voting period shall be deemed to have abstained. Players eligible to vote on proposals may change their vote up until the end of the prescribed voting period, but in any case are limited to one vote per proposal.
The required number of YES votes for a proposal to be accepted is three-fifths of the total number of YES and NO votes legally cast within the prescribed voting period. If that value is 0, however, the required number of YES votes for acceptance is 1.
The prescribed voting period on a proposal is seven days, starting from the moment that the proposal is publicly distributed as specified by the rules.
Entities may vote only as specified by the rules. Non-entities may not vote.
Rule 107/10
Quorum
The head count for a given proposal includes all players who legally cast a vote on that proposal and all players who were eligible to cast a vote on that proposal at the end of that proposal's voting period but did not do so.
Then, quorum is met if either (a) at least 60% of the players in the head count have cast a vote, or (b) at least 36% of the players in the head count have voted YES, or both. In no other circumstances is quorum met.
Rule 110/0
Infinite Schminfinite
ThinMan (John Bollinger)
If the rules are modified so as to specify that an action occurs without specifying at what time or under what circumstances that action occurs, then the action occurs exactly once, an infinitesimal time after the rules are so modified.
Timestamp: Fri 02 Oct 1998 08:13 EDT