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description: 'Here is a complete list of the rules governing Working Groups:'
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# Rules

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<summary> 1. Creation of Additional Working Groups</summary>

* To create a new Working Group, a Process Proposal, [as defined in AIP-1 Proposing the DAO (‘Process Proposal’) 4](https://forum.apecoin.com/t/aip-1-proposing-the-dao-process/39), must be approved by the DAO. This takes the form of a Working Group Charter.
* A Process Proposal to create a new Working Group must demonstrate that the new Working Group is needed.
* The proposal must demonstrate clearly why their mandate or scope can’t be reasonably executed inside an existing Working Group and how this new Working Group will fit into the overall structure of the DAO.
* A Working Group Charter consists of:
  * Mandate and Scope - What does this group do?
  * OKRs, if any - How is progress measured against budget proposals?
  * Initiatives, if any - Which specific tasks or teams does this group need?
  * Reporting Requirements - How often will this group report to the DAO?
  * Stewards, if any - Who will maintain this group until the next election?
  * Budget - How much will this cost until the next Funding Window? (Can be $0)

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<summary> 2. Dissolution of Working Groups</summary>

* A Working Group can be dissolved or removed by passing a Process Proposal requesting the dissolution or removal of a Working Group.
* Upon the dissolution of a Working Group, any and all unspent Working Group funds from that Working Group, at the time of dissolution, must be immediately returned to the DAO.

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<summary> 3. Working Group Stewards</summary>

* Each Working Group shall be managed by three Stewards, elected to serve within Working Groups for a set period of time (hereafter known as a ‘Term’ or ‘Terms’).
* Stewards of the Governance Working Group will be elected by the DAO, following the AIP process.
* Stewards of future Working Groups will be considered elected by the DAO if they are personally named in a proposed Working Group Charter which passes our governance process via a DAO-wide vote.
  * If no Stewards are personally named in a Working Group Charter which passes our governance process via a DAO-wide vote, the Ape Assembly will run an election to determine the Stewards of the new Working Group.
* Stewards are responsible for supervising the operations of their Working Group.
* Eligible members of the ApeCoin DAO may not hold either a Steward role, Special Council Role, or DAO Secretary role concurrently.
  * The responsibilities of Stewards include, but are not limited to:
    * Managing their Working Group multisig.
    * Operational tasks related to the administration and reporting requirements of their Working Group.
    * Maintaining relevant documents and their Working Group Charter.
    * Organizing and approving Initiatives within a Working Group.
    * Communicating and coordinating with the APE Foundation Administrators, Special Council and the DAO Secretary.
    * Approving budgets for Initiatives and contributors.
    * Executing their Working Group Charters.

_Steward Responsibility to the DAO_

_Stewards are responsible for facilitating the will of the DAO. Stewards of Working Groups can be mandated to perform tasks, set objectives and goals, sign documents and enter into agreements pending the outcome of our governance process, or an AIP. They are also responsible for their Working Group’s multi-sig wallet._

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<summary> 4. Working Group Leads</summary>

* The Stewards of each Working Group must appoint a Working Group Lead.
  * Only current elected Stewards of the Working Group are eligible to serve as a Lead within that given Working Group.
* Leads may be appointed or removed from that role at any time by a vote among the Stewards of a Working Group, with the outcome of that vote communicated in the ApeCoin DAO governance forum.
* In the event that a Lead steps down from the position or is removed, a new Lead must be appointed within five calendar days.
* A Steward who is appointed to serve as a Lead of a Working Group will remain in that position from the date of appointment until the end of their term limit, or they are removed or replaced.
* The responsibilities of Leads include, but are not limited to:
  * Acting as a project manager within the Working Group;
  * Managing meetings schedules and workshops;
  * Managing resource requests from other Working Groups, Initiatives, and contributors within a Working Group;
  * Participating in strategy calls with the Secretary and other Leads, which will be scheduled every two weeks for better alignment and broad DAO strategy.
  * Consult with DAO members on Working Group performance and milestone progress;
  * Provide reports of Working Group spending in the ApeCoin DAO governance forum; and
  * Maintain open communications with DAO participants in the ApeCoin DAO governance forum.

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<summary> 5. Removal and Replacement of Working Group Stewards</summary>

* A Steward will be removed if a Process Proposal requesting the removal of a Steward is passed, or they have reached their Term limit.
* Stewards may step down from their position at any time by communicating their intention to step down in the ApeCoin DAO governance forum.
* In the event that a Steward is removed, steps down, or is unable to continue as a Steward, for whatever reason, their multi-sig ownership will be revoked and the multi-sig will be operated by the two remaining Stewards along with the DAO Secretary until such a time as a new Steward is elected.
* In the event that a Steward is removed, steps down, or is unable to continue as a Steward, for whatever reason, any temporary vacant positions will be filled by a contributor selected by the Ape Assembly, until an election to assign a new Steward to that Working Group has been completed.

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<summary> 6. Working Group Budgets</summary>

1. To request Working Group funds, Leads of each Working Group will submit Ecosystem Fund Allocation Proposals, [as defined in AIP-1 Proposing the DAO (‘Ecosystem Fund Allocation Proposal’) ](https://forum.apecoin.com/t/aip-1-proposing-the-dao-process/39) in the form of a Working Group Budget Proposal within the final 15 days (inclusive) of the months of, February and August each calendar year (each a ‘Funding Window’).
2. In the case of an emergency, where Working Group funds are needed by a Working Group outside of a Funding Window, an Ecosystem Fund allocation proposal may be submitted at any time by the Lead of a Working Group to request funds from the DAO.
3. Each Working Group multi-sig must have four keyholders, made up of the three current elected Stewards for that Working Group and the Secretary of the DAO.
4. Working Group funds may be disbursed from Working Group multi-sigs with three-of-four keyholder signing.
5. Stewards of a Working Group shall have the discretion to allocate their own Working Group funds where appropriate and where it is not illegal or in conflict with any AIPs or other rules.
6. All requests for Steward compensation must be detailed in a Working Group Budget Proposal or Working Group Charter.
7. Stewards may not receive compensation for their role as a Steward outside of that compensation expressly provided for in this AIP, or a Working Group Budget Proposal.

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