Interim Constitution Committee (CC)

Like the interim Constitution, there will be an interim Constitutional Committee (CC) to enable the first stage of the Chang upgrade. The interim CC will focus on the technicality and base constitutionality of the very first community-submitted on-chain governance actions. Through the technical aptitude and expertise required to interpret the interim constitution and to submit CC votes, the interim CC will fulfill an important role in maintaining the Cardano blockchain’s stability and security during the interim period.

Held in checks and balances through the governance design described in CIP-1694, the interim CC is bound by the thresholds and safeguards put upon it, and has a limited scope while the final constitution continues to be drafted through its consultation period.

Composition and remit of the interim CC

The interim CC will initially comprise seven members, all on a 73-epoch (one-year) term from the date of the Chang upgrade. As a result of the technical focus relating to the interim Constitution, at first, the interim CC will be composed of the pioneer entities: Input Output Global, the Cardano Foundation and EMURGO. To ensure broad community representation and diversity on the interim CC, Intersect will take the fourth seat.

The three remaining seats are open to anyone from the Cardano community to be elected to.

The interim CC will strive to conduct itself within a set of guiding principles:

• Uphold the interim Constitution - the primary and most fundamental principle of the interim CC is to uphold the interim Cardano Constitution. The interim Constitution provides the framework and guardrails for collective decision making. The interim CC, above all else, must fulfill its role to ensure the Constitution is upheld when making any decision.

• Must be an ada holder - to ensure the interim CC member is a member of the Cardano community, as well as to enable participation in on-chain voting, every CC member must be an ada holder.

• Transparent deliberation - Cardano’s on-chain governance model, as specified in CIP-1694, provides a foundation of open and transparent governance processes. The interim CC, and its individual members, will consider how it deliberates and makes decisions with transparency in mind.

• Regular communication - the interim CC is expected to meet regularly to review and evaluate the constitutionality of each governance action, confer on technical guidance and analysis and, with Intersect’s administrative support, take minutes to be published publicly.

• Publish rationale - when accepting or rejecting a proposal, the interim CC may publish in writing a rationale for decisions made, justifying the reasons why a particular governance action is or is not constitutional.

• Stay informed - the interim CC (and the individual members) should stay abreast of important issues impacting on the network.

Interim CC members will not be remunerated; however a support package via an administrative function at Intersect will help cover such expenses as for administration, communications, technical and legal support, and education and training.

Intersect's role on the interim CC

Intersect’s position on the interim CC will be defined by its members, including close collaboration with the Cardano Civics Committee. Besides its seat as a member of the interim CC, and as mentioned above, Intersect will fund and provide an administrative function to support the whole interim CC, staffed by Intersect members and Intersect’s professional team.

In accordance with one of its key pillars - to administer and champion community-led Cardano governance - Intersect will facilitate an open, inclusive and impartial election process, but will have no influence over or input into the outcome - including abstaining from voting in the election.