Movement Charter/Amendment

Amendment[edit]

The Wikimedia Movement Charter is designed to endure for many years. Because of this, amendments to the Charter are to be made only in extraordinary circumstances. The exception to this are minor spelling and grammar changes that do not change the meaning or intent of the text of the Charter.

Categories of amendments

Minor corrections.
- Spelling and grammar corrections that do not change the meaning or intent of the Charter.
Changes affecting only the working processes of the Global Council.
Changes that modify the overall responsibilities and membership of the GC.
Changes that modify the values of the movement; or the responsibilities and rights of volunteers, projects, affiliates, hubs, the Wikimedia Foundation, future Wikimedia Movement Organizations, and the wider Wikimedia Movement.
Changes proposed by the Wikimedia Movement.

Amendment Category	Process	Change Approval Body	Notes
1	Two-thirds (⅔) support for proposed change	Global Council Board
2	Two-thirds (⅔) support for proposed change	Global Council Assembly	Community consultation recommended
3	Mandatory community consultation, two-thirds (⅔) support for change in in vote following consultation	Global Council Assembly
4	Movement-wide vote, majority support for change	Wikimedia Movement	Voting mechanism to follow the ratification process as closely as possible, including support vote from WMF Board of Trustees
5	Proposals must meet criteria to move on to voting. Movement-wide vote, majority support for change	Wikimedia Movement	Voting mechanism to follow the ratification process as closely as possible, including support vote from WMF Board of Trustees

Process for proposing Wikimedia Movement Charter amendments

The Global Council Board may propose Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 amendments. The Global Council Assembly may propose Category 2, 3 and 4 amendments. Category 5 amendments are proposed by members of the Wikimedia Movement.