> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://meet-coop-1.gitbook.io/handbook-trial/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://meet-coop-1.gitbook.io/handbook-trial/6-constitution/constitution/a-design-approach-to-a-constitution-an-assemblage-of-protocols.md).

# A design approach to a constitution - an assemblage of protocols

Here we describe how the meet.coop constitution with be generated, out of the design practice of commons.hour.

> Updated: 19jul2021

> Incomplete topic, to be expanded xxx

The Resource Centre <https://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/constitutions/> notes:

> It is important to try and get a constitution that actually reflects the way in which you want to do things. There is no point in lumbering yourself with a lot of bureaucracy you don’t want, or writing down loads of things you don’t intend to do, simply because you think they are what people expect.

Our intention is that **the handbook** should do this.

xxx A constitution as **an assemblage of protocols** - because the form of the handbook is essentially an assemblage of protocols

xxx Principles - A limited selection of **core protocols** - at an appropriate level of abstraction and specifically relevant to formal incorporation as a coop - will be abstracted as the basis of a constitution. These will be referred to as the **principles** of meet.coop.

Standard elements or categories of a constitution are outlined in [Conventional outline of a constitution](/handbook-trial/6-constitution/constitution/conventional-outline-of-a-constitution.md). This trial handbook has the structure below. In principle, we expect that a constitution can have more or less the same structure as the handbook. Alongside each section we identify where each of the standard elements is located.

* [1 Intentions](/handbook-trial/1-principles/intentions.md) - includes Name of organisation, Aims, Members
* [2 Political economy](/handbook-trial/2-political-economy/political-economy.md) includes Finances
* [3 Social relations](/handbook-trial/3-social-relations/design-and-operation-principles.md) - includes Committee and officers
* [4 Assemblies and deliberations](/handbook-trial/4-assemblies-and-deliberations/assemblies-and-deliberations.md) - includes AGM and other meetings, Rules of procedure, Changes to the constitution
* [5 commons.hour](/handbook-trial/5-commons.hour/commons.hour-programme.md) - the design project
* [6 Constitution](/handbook-trial/6-constitution/constitution.md) - includes Rules of procedure, Changes to the constitution, Dissolution
* [7 Code of conduct](/handbook-trial/7-code-of-conduct/code-of-conduct.md) - includes Rules of procedure
* [8 Terminology](/handbook-trial/8-terminology/terminology.md)
* [9 Supporting materials](/handbook-trial/supporting-materials.md)&#x20;