GA/General Assembly

At 7:00 PM on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, Occupy Boston gathers for either discussion groups or a General Assembly (GA), its core decision-making body. Additional GAs may be scheduled in the morning, if needed. Minutes from previous GAs can be read at: GA Minutes.

GA is open to all who want to participate in its defined process, described below. Whether you’re camping with us or just stopping by, your voice is welcome! Everyone’s voice is equal, but we cannot all speak at once so we use a procedure to organize our contributions. To offer proposals remotely to GA, submit them here: GA Process Proposals.

General Assembly (GA) Process

There are no governing authorities in the General Assembly, but a trained Facilitator directs an established process. Facilitators guide the GA process without imposing their views on the group. Facilitator training is offered regularly for anyone interested in volunteering in this role. Check the calendar or listen for announcements to become a trained facilitator. Trained Floor Monitors may also help participants find the right time in the process to raise their point. More information about the GA process is available through the Facilitators' page and a document at Google Doc

A typical order of GA business might be:

1. Facilitator reviews consensus process, techniques and the order of the meeting.
   • Someone is identified to keep the 'stack' list of people waiting to address the GA.  To speak to the group, add your name to that list.
   • A timekeeper, floor aides and other assistants are identified.
2. Working Groups and Individuals make announcements.
3. Working Groups and Individuals present proposals for GA consideration.
4. The GA goes through a Consensus Process (see next section) for each proposal before moving on to the next one.

Consensus Process

A defined Consensus Process is used by the assembled group to share thoughts and work toward a consensus. The Facilitator directs this process and may modify it, as agreed by the group. Any member of the GA may speak up in any section, but we make an effort to not repeat things that have already been said. Each question or statement only needs to be made once for the whole group. 

Discussion Process

The first part of the Consensus Process involves discussing and amending the proposal in a sequence of steps followed by the entire group.  That is, in Step 2 (below) all Clarifying Questions should be voiced but no Points of Information are yet heard.  Once everyone has asked their Clarifying Questions, the whole group moves on to Points of Information.  The proposers do not answer questions until the final discussion step when they address everything the group has said.

At any time, a person may interrupt with a Point of Process if the process is not being followed or a different process applies. (Raise both hands with index fingers pointing at each other and touching.) For instance, sometimes GA approval will be requested for something that the GA has previously agreed to. Someone can interrupt with a Point of Process to explain that there is no need to continue with GA approval in this case. If there is disagreement about this Point of Process, the Facilitator or possibly the entire GA will make a decision about how to proceed. 

Discussion Steps followed by the entire GA together:

1. A proposal is stated or read. Ideally, a copy of the text is distributed at or before the meeting so people can consider it closely, especially if it is a complicated or important proposal.
2. Clarifying Questions are raised by anyone in the group.  (Raise hand and curve fingers to form a "C."  The Facilitator will call on each person to state the question.)
3. Points of Information are raised to add information that has not yet been covered.  (Raise hand and point index finger straight up like an "I.")
4. Strong Concerns or Objections are voiced.
5. Friendly Amendments are proposed. (Raise hand with two fingers forming a "V.")
6. The proposers consider what has been said and, for each of the questions, concerns and amendments, whether to:
   • withdraw the proposal,
   • adopt any suggested amendments, or
   • keep the proposal as is and respond to the concerns.

If any changes have been made, the amended proposal is stated and discussion steps 2 - 6 are repeated.  If no changes are made to the proposal in discussion step 6, then it is ready for the decision process.

Decision Process

1. If someone believes that the proposal poses a danger to the group's purpose or cohesion that is serious enough that the person would consider leaving the group, the person raises a "Block." The hand signal to indicate a block is to cross arms at the wrist and hold them up in front of you so they can be seen.  Any other people with a different block state theirs.
2. Each block is assessed by the GA:
   • A vote of 75% must agree that the block is a sincere and legitimate statement, whether or not they agree with the block. If 75% agree that the block is a fair statement, a vote is taken to see how many people agree with the block.
   • A vote of 10% must agree to support the block to make it effective. A blocked proposal is tabled and may be reconsidered at a later time.
3. A show of support is requested using hand signals to show support, uncertainty or disapproval. (See Temperature Check, below, for a description of the hand signals.) If counting is required, raised hands may be used, or people may be asked to stand on one side or another to determine a count. 75% approval is a common threshold for consensus.

• If Consensus is reached, the proposal is adopted.
• If Consensus is not reached, but the proposal is not blocked, there may be a move to Indirect Consensus.
• If timely consensus cannot be reached, the Facilitator may ask the proposer to:
  • submit a revised proposal at a later meeting or
  • submit the proposal to a Working Group before returning it to GA.

Indirect Consensus

Indirect Consensus involves the following optional steps:

1. Debate: Three Debaters For and Three Debaters Against will each speak for 30-120 seconds.
2. The proposal is restated, and the GA is asked for a Temperature Check (see Useful Techniques, below.)
3. If Consensus is not reached, a Facilitator asks for Strong Objections to be stated.
4. The GA breaks into Small Group Discussion for 5-15 minutes.
5. The GA returns to Step 2 of the Decision Process.

 

---

Useful Techniques

People's Mic

The People's Mic serves as amplification when there is no bullhorn or microphone. It is typically begun by someone yelling "Mic check!" Everyone who hears this is expected to reply loudly in unison: "Mic check!" The speaker then dictates a few words at a time, pausing for the crowd to recite each phrase. For large crowds, there may be a second echo of each phrase by those farther out in the group. This is a way to amplify one voice by using many voices together. On top of the fun factor, it has the added benefit of giving people time to make sure they hear and understand what's said.

Temperature Check

To informally assess support for a proposal or idea, the Facilitator may request a "Temperature Check." All GA participants then show agreement by wiggling their fingers in the air ("twinkling") or disagreement by wiggling their fingers pointed down ("squid fingers.") Those who are undecided may wiggle their fingers horizontally, parallel to the ground.

Hand Signals

To help communication in a large group, some hand signals are often used, described below.

Temperature Check and voting signals:

• Approve or vote yes: raise hand(s) and wiggle fingers in the air.
• Disapprove or vote no: raise arms but point fingers downward and wiggle them.
• Undecided or neutral: hold hands parallel to the ground and wiggle fingers.

Signals to get permission from the Facilitator to say something: 

• Clarifying Question: raise hand and curve fingers to form a "C."
• Point of Information: raise hand and point index finger straight up like an "I."
• Point of Process: raise both hands with index fingers pointing at each other and touching.
• Amendment: raise hand with two fingers forming a "V."
• Block: cross arms at the wrist and hold them up in front of you so they can be seen.