User:Elviondale/Policy/Bureaucrats
Bureaucrats[edit]
Bureaucrats have the power to appoint or revoke the administrative status of users based on community decisions. Additionally, the group of bureaucrats, as long as there are at least 2, form an Arbitration committee, who are the final arbiters on the English language Guild Wars Wiki of user conduct (but not content decisions), including that of administrators.
The group of bureaucrats is mutually exclusive from the group of sysops -- any status as sysop is temporarily revoked while appointed as a bureaucrat.1 Bureaucrats have some extra user rights, such as editing protected pages and viewing deleted pages, but are forbidden from executing page deletions/undeletions or user blocks/unblocks (although they may unblock their own account for arbitration purposes if necessary). While ArbComm injunctions and rulings may involve those, the enforcement of such is left to sysops. Any revoked sysop status is reinstated at the end of the bureaucrat term, or upon resignation.
Due to their important role in the community, bureaucrats are held to a higher standard than sysops. All bureaucrats are expected to provide explanations for the use of their powers, and they are additionally expected to respond to any questions about their actions from anyone, including via e-mail. All bureaucrats are required to list a publicly reachable e-mail address.
Bureaucrats are generally appointed for fixed terms of 6 months from their date of appointment. The terms are staggered to have at least one bureaucrat active at all times. New bureaucrats are elected to an open position by community-wide open elections. Bureaucrats may run for re-election arbitrarily often. Any contributor (even non-administrators) in good standing may run for an open position. See Guild Wars Wiki:Elections for a description of the bureaucrat election process and a list of current open elections.
Bureaucrats may resign at any time. Sitting bureaucrats can only be removed by unanimous votes of the other bureaucrats.
