## Supplemental Material [[Research Committee Guidelines]] ## Article I - Establishment and Purpose The Research Committee is established as a standing committee and permanent informational infrastructure. Its purpose is to maintain an archival and informational system for documenting publicly available information relevant to organizational context for those in 50501 Pittsburgh and other related organizations as a way to serve as an intergroup project. The Committee is advisory in nature and does not direct action, issue operational guidance, or serve as a communications body. ## Article II - Scope Limitations The Research Committee exists for archival and informational purposes only. **The Committee does not:** - Document interpersonal disputes, gossip, or private conflicts. - Collect, publish, or archive private personal data such as home addresses, personal phone numbers, non-public email addresses, or similar identifying information. - Compile or distribute information intended to facilitate personal targeting or harassment. - Monitor or archive material from non-public spaces, restricted forums, private accounts, or private group communications. - Issue strategic direction, talking points, or operational guidance. - Speak on behalf of the organization unless explicitly authorized. Profiles of public officials and public figures may be compiled based on documented public conduct and publicly available information. Speculation regarding motives or intent should be avoided unless supported by documented public statements. **The Committee does:** - Document interesting articles - Explain concepts - Document laws and changed to official policy - Explain historical events - Document activist events and actions - Promote ideas shared by all included groups ## Article III - Roles ### Section 1 - Contributors Contributors may access, edit, and contribute to the internal archive. Contributors may delete internal entries they **solely authored**. If an internal entry has been substantively edited that all parties consented to, deletion requires agreement of all substantive contributors. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter shall be submitted to the Chair. Contributors may not delete publicly published material. ### Section 2 - Publishers Publishers possess all Contributor privileges and may elevate material from the internal archive to the public-facing site. ### Section 3 - Content Review Board The Content Reviewers are a board of committee members designated to address contentious or edge case entries. Content Reviewers do not serve as a general approval body for each entry. Publishers retain the authority to freely publish material within the scope established by this Charter. The Content Reviewer board exists to deliberate on disputes, flag problematic entries, and establish ad-hoc restrictions or clarifications as novel situations arise that the Charter does not expressly anticipate. The board shall consist of committee members nominated by the Chair and confirmed by Organizer vote. The board should strive to maintain an odd number of members including the Chair. Board votes may be conducted asynchronously. In the event of a tied vote for any reason, including abstentions, the Chair's side shall prevail. Content Reviewers may: - Be a Contributor or Publisher but it is not necessarily a requirement. - Flag published or internal material for board review. - Issue supplemental content restrictions on a case-by-case basis. - Recommend revision, reclassification, or removal of specific entries that may then be voted on. - Amend the Research Committee Guidelines to define or update content policy, provided such amendments do not contradict this Charter. Content Reviewers may not: - Unilaterally remove or revoke published material. - Override Charter-established Publisher freedoms absent a board determination. - Issue restrictions or policy that contradict this Charter or standing Organizer directives. Supplemental restrictions issued by the Content Reviewer board shall be logged and made accessible to all Contributors and Publishers. ### Section 4 - Chair The Chair possesses all Contributor, Publisher and Content Reviewer privileges. The Chair retains authority to: - Request revision of published material, or temporarily revoke or suspend it for up to two weeks pending Content Reviewer board deliberation and vote. - Appoint Contributors and Publishers. - Reorganize entries for organizational purposes within the internal archive and the published site, regardless of authorship. - Reassign editorial stewardship in cases of inactivity. - Revoke access or publishing privileges in accordance with this Charter. The Chair shall notify affected parties of publication revocations and may provide clarification in the designated internal channel when appropriate. Any chair for this committee must be a 50501 Pittsburgh organizer as defined by the bylaws. ### Section 5 - Organizers Organizers retain ultimate authority over Committee operations. Organizers may: - Revoke Contributor or Publisher status. - Remove or restore published material. - Direct publication of material. - Revoke or restore read-only access. - Confirm nominated Content Reviewers - Audit internal archive materials upon request. - Modify this Charter Organizer votes referenced in this Charter shall be decided by a simple majority in accordance with the organization’s adopted voting procedures, unless otherwise designated. ### Section 6 - Role Revocation for Cause In addition to discretionary removal as otherwise provided in this Charter, Contributor or Publisher status may be revoked for cause. Cause may include deliberate and malicious alteration, deletion, or interference with another contributor’s work in violation of established collaboration rules, intentional circumvention of publication or access authority, or deliberate manipulation of official records or logs. Accidental edits, misunderstandings, or good-faith mistakes shall not alone constitute grounds for removal unless the repeated occurrences become too frequent and an unnecessary burden to the other members . The Committee operates on trust and oversight, and corrective guidance is preferred where appropriate. The Chair may revoke roles for cause. Organizers retain ultimate authority and may affirm or overrule such revocation in accordance with adopted voting procedures. ## Article IV - Access Authority ### Section 1 - Read Only Access Read-only access may be granted at the Chair’s or Organizer's discretion. All access grants must be logged in a location accessible to all organizers. Organizers retain ultimate authority over read-only access and may revoke access at any time. If the Chair is uncertain about granting access, the decision may be referred to organizers for a vote. Access granted by organizer vote may only be revoked by organizers. In the event of clear evidence of an emergency access breach done so by a person with read-only access, a contributor or a publisher, the Chair may immediately revoke access. Such revocation must be logged and reported to Organizers. Organizers may affirm the revocation or overrule it and restore access. ### Section 2 - Access Logging and Records All read-only access grants and revocations shall be recorded in a private shared document accessible only to organizers. The specific platform used to maintain the log is not prescribed, provided that the log remains private to organizers and fulfills the requirements of transparency and recordkeeping set forth in this Charter. ## Article V - Conflict of Interest Transparency Contributors and Publishers are expected to disclose personal, financial, or organizational involvement when substantively shaping entries related to that involvement. Direct involvement does not automatically disqualify contribution, however, transparency preserves the integrity of the archive. ## Article VI - Inactivity and Stewardship If a Contributor or Publisher is inactive for thirty (30) days without communication or participation, editorial stewardship of their entries _may_ transfer to the Chair or a Chair-designated contributor. This is not necessary and is at the discretion of the Chair or the Organizers but ownership of the entries may stay with the original owner. ## Article VII - Organizer Audit Authority Any organizer without internal archive access may request an informal audit of internal materials. A formal audit may be initiated by organizer vote and, if approved by a simple majority, shall require compliance. Compliance shall be satisfied through a compiled export of the requested materials within seven (7) days, unless otherwise agreed. Nothing in this section requires granting internal archive access as part of an audit. Technical limitations, administrative burden, or subscription requirements shall not obligate the Committee to provide direct system access. An audit may also be requested and performed during a meeting, provided prior notice is given so that appropriate materials, devices, or access tools may be brought to fulfill the audit request.