The Rules

All players must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form in which they are then in effect. The rules in the Initial Set are in effect whenever a game begins. The Initial Set consists of Rules 101-116 (immutable) and 201-213 (mutable).

Initially rules in the 100's are immutable and rules in the 200's are mutable. Rules subsequently enacted or transmuted (that is, changed from immutable to mutable or vice versa) may be immutable or mutable regardless of their numbers, and rules in the Initial Set may be transmuted regardless of their numbers.

A rule-change is any of the following: (1) the enactment, repeal, or amendment of a mutable rule; (2) the enactment, repeal, or amendment of an amendment of a mutable rule; or (3) the transmutation of an immutable rule into a mutable rule or vice versa.(Note: This definition implies that, at least initially, all new rules are mutable; immutable rules, as long as they are immutable, may not be amended or repealed; mutable rules, as long as they are mutable, may be amended or repealed; any rule of any status may be transmuted; no rule is absolutely immune to change.)

All rule-changes proposed in the proper way shall be voted on. They will be adopted if and only if they receive the required number of votes.

All proposed rule-changes shall be written down before they are voted on. If they are adopted, they shall guide play in the form in which they were voted on.

No rule-change may take effect earlier than the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it, even if its wording explicitly states otherwise. No rule-change may have retroactive application.

Each proposed rule-change shall be given a number for reference. The numbers shall begin with 301, and each rule-change proposed in the proper way shall receive the next successive integer, whether or not the proposal is adopted.If a rule is repealed and reenacted, it receives the number of the proposal to reenact it. If a rule is amended or transmuted, it receives the number of the proposal to amend or transmute it. If an amendment is amended or repealed, the entire rule of which it is a part receives the number of the proposal to amend or repeal the amendment.

Rule-changes that transmute immutable rules into mutable rules may be adopted if and only if the vote is unanimous among the eligible voters. Transmutation shall not be implied, but must be stated explicitly in a proposal to take effect.

In a conflict between a mutable and an immutable rule, the immutable rule takes precedence and the mutable rule shall be entirely void. For the purposes of this rule a proposal to transmute an immutable rule does not "conflict" with that immutable rule.

If a rule-change as proposed is unclear, ambiguous, paradoxical, or destructive of play, or if it arguably consists of two or more rule-changes compounded or is an amendment that makes no difference, or if it is otherwise of questionable value, then the other players may suggest amendments or argue against the proposal before the vote. A reasonable time must be allowed for this debate. The proponent decides the final form in which the proposal is to be voted on and, unless the Judge has been asked to do so, also decides the time to end debate and vote.

The state of affairs that constitutes winning may not be altered from achieving n points to any other state of affairs. The magnitude of n and the means of earning points may be changed, and rules that establish a winner when play cannot continue may be enacted and (while they are mutable) be amended or repealed.

A player always has the option to forfeit the game rather than continue to play or incur a game penalty. No penalty worse than losing, in the judgment of the player to incur it, may be imposed.

There must always be at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule-changes must never become completely impermissible.

Rule-changes that affect rules needed to allow or apply rule-changes are as permissible as other rule-changes. Even rule-changes that amend or repeal their own authority are permissible. No rule-change or type of move is impermissible solely on account of the self-reference or self-application of a rule.

Whatever is not prohibited or regulated by a rule is permitted and unregulated, with the sole exception of changing the rules, which is permitted only when a rule or set of rules explicitly or implicitly permits it.

Players shall alternate in clockwise order, taking one whole turn apiece. Turns may not be skipped or passed, and parts of turns may not be omitted. All players begin with zero points.

In mail and computer games, players shall alternate in alphabetical order by surname.

A rule-change is adopted if and only if the vote is unanimous among the eligible voters. If this rule is not amended by the end of the second complete circuit of turns, it automatically changes to require only a simple majority.

If and when rule-changes can be adopted without unanimity, the players who vote against winning proposals shall receive 10 points each.

An adopted rule-change takes full effect at the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it.

When a proposed rule-change is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10 points.

The winner is the first player to achieve 100 (positive) points.

In mail and computer games, the winner is the first player to achieve 200 (positive) points.

At no time may there be more than 25 mutable rules.

Players may not conspire or consult on the making of future rule-changes unless they are team-mates.

The first paragraph of this rule does not apply to games by mail or computer.

If two or more mutable rules conflict with one another, or if two or more immutable rules conflict with one another, then the rule with the lowest ordinal number takes precedence.

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 supersede the numerical method for determining precedence.

If two or more rules claim to take precedence over one another or to defer to one another, then the numerical method again governs.

If players disagree about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a rule, then the player preceding the one moving is to be the Judge and decide the question. Disagreement for the purposes of this rule may be created by the insistence of any player. This process is called invoking Judgment.

When Judgment has been invoked, the next player may not begin his or her turn without the consent of a majority of the other players.

The Judge's Judgment may be overruled only by a unanimous vote of the other players taken before the next turn is begun. If a Judge's Judgment is overruled, then the player preceding the Judge in the playing order becomes the new Judge for the question, and so on, except that no player is to be Judge during his or her own turn or during the turn of a team-mate.

Unless a Judge is overruled, one Judge settles all questions arising from the game until the next turn is begun, including questions as to his or her own legitimacy and jurisdiction as Judge.

New Judges are not bound by the decisions of old Judges. New Judges may, however, settle only those questions on which the players currently disagree and that affect the completion of the turn in which Judgment was invoked. All decisions by Judges shall be in accordance with all the rules then in effect; but when the rules are silent, inconsistent, or unclear on the point at issue, then the Judge shall consider game-custom and the spirit of the game before applying other standards.

If the rules are changed so that further play is impossible, or if the legality of a move cannot be determined with finality, or if by the Judge's best reasoning, not overruled, a move appears equally legal and illegal, then the first player unable to complete a turn is the winner.

This rule takes precedence over every other rule determining the winner.

Each proposal shall be posted to the group with the subject consisting of the word "Proposal" followed by the proposal number.

• A) Each player shall receive Points for the Introduction of a new player into the game.
• B) The introducing Player shall receive 5 (five) points for an official Introduction.
• C) Introduction shall be determined by an affidavit posted to the group, by the new player, within 1 (one) day of joining, with the subject header "Introduction" and text consisting of the following declaration: "[Player name] has introduced me to Scatterbrains."
• D) This rule shall remain in effect until the game consists of 10 (ten) or more members.
• E) For the purposes of further discussion, this rule may also be referred to as the "Be Fruitful and Multiply" Bill.

Every player is an eligible voter. Every eligible voter must participate in every vote on rule-changes.

One turn consists of four parts, in this order:

1. proposal of a rule
2. discussion and amendment phase, which begins immediately following the proposal, and which may change the rule based on the discussion, but may not include the substitution of a new rule
3. voting on the rule, which begins when the final form of the rule is declared by the proposer
4. scoring.

Scoring shall be 15 points for each rule, multiplied by the fraction produced by the ratio of positive votes to total possible votes. All fractional scores shall be rounded up to the nearest integer.

Offices:

Any formally defined role other than the ordinary player role, shall be referred to as an "Office." Offices are each to be created and defined by a proposal.

The proposal must include:

1. Responsibilities of the office
2. The method of selection of officers
3. Term of office, and method of succession
4. The method of removal from office

Time Limit:

There will be a time limit of 5 business days, excluding federal holidays*, to submit a proposal. If a proposal is not submitted within 5 business days after the last player has cast their vote on the previous proposal there will be a "1 point a day" penalty enforced. Penalty points will be deducted from the players total points and can go below 0. If a player fails to submit a proposal within 25 business days that player will be held in violation and can be removed if all other players are in agreement.

*The list of Federal Holidays are as follows:

1. New Years Day
2. Presidents Day
3. Memorial Day
4. Independence Day
5. Labor Day
6. Veterans Day
7. Thanksgiving Day
8. Christmas Day

A new participant will gain the right to vote immediately upon sending an introduction affidavit, if all voting on final proposals is complete.

If voting on a final proposal is not complete upon sending an introduction affidavit, a new participant's right to vote will be withheld until all voting on final proposals is complete.

This new participant will enter the order of play upon casting his or her first vote.

1. All Players shall have the right to transfer points from their own score to the score of another in whatever amount, for whatever reason. In no case may a player's score fall below zero using this method.
2. All point transfers shall be stated publicly. All point transfers shall be numbered sequentially, beginning with 1001. Point transfer statements shall have the following form:
   

"Subject: Point Transfer X
I [name of player], of my own free will,
do transfer N points to [name of recipient]."

3. Point transfers may take place at any time. They are effective exactly 24 hours after their public statement. Players may explain the reasons behind their transfer of points but are not required to.
4. Point transfers shall be deemed null and void if they do not follow the proscribed procedure. In the case of a dispute or an accusation of fraud the current Judge, as determined in rule 212, shall determine the legality of any transfer using all available evidence. If that Judge is one of the immediate parties to the current transfer (either giving or receiving points) he shall be relived of his duties in this matter and the previous Judge shall take responsibility, following the procedure found in rule 212.

Scorekeeper:

The office of scorekeeper shall be created for the purpose of maintaining and reporting the official score of the game.

The scorekeeper must record and make public any changes to a player's score within 2 business days of the event which causes the score change. Any disputes with the reported score must be announced within 5 business days of the report.

The scorekeeping record shall consist of a detailed list of entries, each corresponding to a score adjustment. Each entry shall contain the date, the player's name, a brief description of the reason for the adjustment, and the positive or negative score adjustment.

The scorekeeper is a public employee, and as such is hired and paid by the population. His salary is one point per turn, collected one point from each player after N turns, where N equals the number of players.

The scorekeeper is selected from any applicants by the population. A poll shall be created with the names of prospective employees, and each player shall choose one. The applicant recieving the most votes becomes the scorekeeper at the start of the next turn. If the outcome is a tie, there shall be a runoff election, conducted in the same manner with only those applicants who recieved the most votes.

The score maintained by the scorekeeper will be official and indisputable after the determined period. The scorekeeper may, at his discression, make adjustment records to remedy mistakes not caught before the dispute period.

The scorekeeper is hired based on an infinately renewable contract. A vote of confidence can be called by any player at any time. If there has not been a vote of confidence for 10 turns, an automatic vote is called. If a majority of players believe that the scorekeeper should be replaced, a new one is chosen in the afformentioned manner. The previous scorekeeper is entitled to apply for the job, and remains scorekeeper until such time as a new scorekeeper is selected.

Voting on Proposals

Voting will take place with the use of Polls. The player Proposing a rule will create and control a Poll with the following specifications:

1. The Poll question will have the Proposal Number
2. An email will be sent out to all the players detailing the Final Proposal
3. The Poll will include a question accepting or opposing the Proposal
4. All players must submit their vote

If the Poll is not hidden all votes are final. If you would like to change your vote there will be 2 points deducted from your total score for every vote change made.

If the Poll is hidden then the person submitting the proposal MUST vote for their proposal or there will be a 10-point penalty deducted from their score.

If a player fails to submit a vote within 25 business days** that player will be held in violation and can be removed if all other players are in agreement.

** Business Days are defined in Rule 308

All players begin the game with, and under normal play shall retain, a voting right. Each voting right is worth one vote.

Any player whose score becomes negative is hereby designated a "debtor." Debtors temporarily lose voting rights, for the duration of their debt. For each official day that a player is a debtor, his point total will increase by 1 point until such time as it reaches 0 again. At that point or if the debtor's score rises above 0 at any point and for any reason, the debtor shall be a full participant again, and shall regain his voting right; unless a new proposal has already been offered, in which case the debtor shall regain his voting right at the close of that proposal. Official days shall be determined by counting calendar days (i.e. not 24 hour periods), using those days which are currently official in Nomic. However, if a player's point total drops below zero after 5pm, the first day of debt will be the following calendar day.

At the moment a player becomes a debtor, his voting right will be transferred to the community, at which point other players may bid to purchase it. An on-list auction will be created, with the voting right being transferred to the highest bidder. Debtors may not participate in the auctions. The highest bidder shall retain the purchased voting right until such time as the period of debt ends, when it will revert to the original owner.

This rule takes precedence over Rule 305.

No player may propose the enactment of an additional mutable rule when the current number of mutable rules is equal to or greater than six (6) times the current number of players.

Any player may suggest a revision to the rules for the following reasons:

1. To change wording to conform better to the understood intent of the rule.
2. To correct the wording of a poorly written rule.
3. To fix typographical or grammatical errors in an active rule.
4. To correct an error in the form of rule change.
5. To eliminate obsolete or redundant sections of a rule.

The suggestion may be made outside the normal proposal period, and must be agreed to unanimously. The player must post a detailed report of the suggested changes to the list, with the Subject "Official Rule Change Suggestion." If there are no objections to the suggestion after 5 business days and the original author (if he is still a player) consents, or if every player voices consent, the rule(s) are changed according to the written suggestion. If any player objects, the rules are not changed, and the suggestion cannot be made again. Furthermore, if any player objects within 5 business days of the rules being changed, the rules are reverted back to their previous form, and the suggestion is re-opened for review.