The Initial Rules


101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116
201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213
301 302

Immutable Rules:


101. All players must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form in which they are then in effect. The rules in the Initial Set are in effect whenever a game begins. The Initial Set consists of Rules 101-116 (immutable) and 201-213 (mutable).


102. Initially rules in the 100's are immutable and rules in the 200's are mutable. Rules subsequently enacted or transmuted (that is, changed from immutable to mutable or vice versa) may be immutable or mutable regardless of their numbers, and rules in the Initial Set may be transmuted regardless of their numbers.


103. A rule-change is any of the following: (1) the enactment, repeal, or amendment of a mutable rule; (2) the enactment, repeal, or amendment of an amendment of a mutable rule; or (3) the transmutation of an immutable rule into a mutable rule or vice versa.

(Note: This definition implies that, at least initially, all new rules are mutable; immutable rules, as long as they are immutable, may not be amended or repealed; mutable rules, as long as they are mutable, may be amended or repealed; any rule of any status may be transmuted; no rule is absolutely immune to change.)


104. All rule-changes proposed in the proper way shall be voted on. They will be adopted if and only if they receive the required number of votes.


105. Every player is an eligible voter. Every eligible voter must participate in every vote on rule-changes.


106. All proposed rule-changes shall be written down before they are voted on. If they are adopted, they shall guide play in the form in which they were voted on.


107. No rule-change may take effect earlier than the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it, even if its wording explicitly states otherwise. No rule-change may have retroactive application.


108. Each proposed rule-change shall be given a number for reference. The numbers shall begin with 301, and each rule-change proposed in the proper way shall receive the next successive integer, whether or not the proposal is adopted.

If a rule is repealed and re-enacted, it receives the number of the proposal to reenact it. If a rule is amended or transmuted, it receives the number of the proposal to amend or transmute it. If an amendment is amended or repealed, the entire rule of which it is a part receives the number of the proposal to amend or repeal the amendment.


109. Rule-changes that transmute immutable rules into mutable rules may be adopted if and only if the vote is unanimous among the eligible voters. Transmutation shall not be implied, but must be stated explicitly in a proposal to take effect.


110. In a conflict between a mutable and an immutable rule, the immutable rule takes precedence and the mutable rule shall be entirely void. For the purposes of this rule a proposal to transmute an immutable rule does not "conflict" with that immutable rule.


111. If a rule-change as proposed is unclear, ambiguous, paradoxical, or destructive of play, or if it arguably consists of two or more rule-changes compounded or is an amendment that makes no difference, or if it is otherwise of questionable value, then the other players may suggest amendments or argue against the proposal before the vote. A reasonable time must be allowed for this debate. The proponent decides the final form in which the proposal is to be voted on.


112. The state of affairs that constitutes winning may not be altered from achieving n points to any other state of affairs. The magnitude of n and the means of earning points may be changed, and rules that establish a winner when play cannot continue may be enacted and (while they are mutable) be amended or repealed.


113. A player always has the option to forfeit the game rather than continue to play or incur a game penalty. No penalty worse than losing, in the judgment of the player to incur it, may be imposed.


114. There must always be at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule-changes must never become completely impermissible.


115. Rule-changes that affect rules needed to allow or apply rule-changes are as permissible as other rule-changes. Even rule-changes that amend or repeal their own authority are permissible. No rule-change or type of move is impermissible solely on account of the self-reference or self-application of a rule.


116. Whatever is not prohibited or regulated by a rule is permitted and unregulated, with the sole exception of changing the rules, which is permitted only when a rule or set of rules explicitly or implicitly permits it.


Mutable Rules:


201. All Players begin with zero points.


202. Chairperson

a. Choosing the Chairperson:
Active Players will alternate in alphabetic order by surname, taking upon themselves the role of Chairperson. If two or more active players have the same surname the following order would be followed. Order would be in alphabetic order by surname until a matching surname is reached. Then, the order would alternate in alphabetic order by first name. Once that particular matching surname is complete, the order would resume in alphabetic order by surname.
b. Right of Refusal:
A Player may refuse to take the role of Chairperson. If a Player refuses the role then they must determine the Player who will be the Chairperson according to the rules.
c. Duties of Chairperson:
The role of chairperson consists of the following tasks which must all be completed in order. No step may be skipped.
  1. Call for Proposals from Proposing Players. Proposing Players are determined as follows: The Chairperson and the next three Players in alphabetic order by surname from the Chairperson are all Proposing Players. The Chairperson will declare the time limit on submitting Proposals. The time limit will be no less than 1 day.
  2. Distribute the Proposals to all Players announcing that these are the proposals which have been tabled for discussion. The Chairperson will declare a time limit upon the discussion. This time limit will be no less than five days.
  3. At the end of the discussion period, the Chairperson will call for a vote. The Chairperson shall declare a time limit upon the vote. This time limit will be no less than one day. The Chairperson will notify all Players of the Quorum (if defined) for each proposal and if the proposal needs unanimity to pass.
  4. At the end of the voting period the result of the vote shall be determined and distributed to all Players.
  5. Determine the next Chairperson, notifying all Players of their determination and resign the position in favour of the Player thus determined.
d. Time Period Extensions
All time periods may be extended at the Chairperson's discretion if the Chairperson declares the extension to all Players before the end of the time period in question.
e. Consequence of Non-Action
If at any time a player feels that the Chairperson is being lax in their duties, that player may call for judgement. The subject of this call will be whether the Chairperson must be replaced. For this call of judgement the Chairperson cannot be selected as judge. This rule overrides all other rules concerning the selection of judges. If the judge decides that the Chairperson must be replaced, the player calling for judgement will become the Chairperson Pro Tem and continue with all the duties of the Chairperson until they are completed. Once completed the Chairperson Pro Tem will determine the next Chairperson based not on themselves but upon the Chairperson.

203. A rule-change is adopted if and only if the vote is unanimous among the eligible voters. If this rule is not amended by the end of the second complete circuit of turns, it automatically changes to require only a simple majority.


204. If and when rule-changes can be adopted without unanimity, the players who vote against winning proposals shall receive 10 points each.


205. An adopted rule-change takes full effect at the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it.


206. When a proposed rule-change is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10 points.


207. Each player always has exactly one vote.


208. The winner is the first player to achieve 100 (positive) points.

In mail and computer games, the winner is the first player to achieve 200 (positive) points.


209. At no time may there be more than 25 mutable rules.


210. Players may not conspire or consult on the making of future rule-changes unless they are team-mates.

The first paragraph of this rule does not apply to games by mail or computer.


211. If two or more mutable rules conflict with one another, or if two or more immutable rules conflict with one another, then the rule with the lowest ordinal number takes precedence.

If at least one of the rules in conflict explicitly says of itself that it defers to another rule (or type of rule) or takes precedence over another rule (or type of rule), then such provisions shall supersede the numerical method for determining precedence.

If two or more rules claim to take precedence over one another or to defer to one another, then the numerical method again governs.


212. If players disagree about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a rule, then the player preceding the one moving is to be the Judge and decide the question. Disagreement for the purposes of this rule may be created by the insistence of any player. This process is called invoking Judgment.

When Judgment has been invoked, the next player may not begin his or her turn without the consent of a majority of the other players.

The Judge's Judgment may be overruled only by a unanimous vote of the other players taken before the next turn is begun. If a Judge's Judgment is overruled, then the player preceding the Judge in the playing order becomes the new Judge for the question, and so on, except that no player is to be Judge during his or her own turn or during the turn of a team-mate.

Unless a Judge is overruled, one Judge settles all questions arising from the game until the next turn is begun, including questions as to his or her own legitimacy and jurisdiction as Judge.

New Judges are not bound by the decisions of old Judges. New Judges may, however, settle only those questions on which the players currently disagree and that affect the completion of the turn in which Judgment was invoked. All decisions by Judges shall be in accordance with all the rules then in effect; but when the rules are silent, inconsistent, or unclear on the point at issue, then the Judge shall consider game-custom and the spirit of the game before applying other standards.


213. If the rules are changed so that further play is impossible, or if the legality of a move cannot be determined with finality, or if by the Judge's best reasoning, not overruled, a move appears equally legal and illegal, then the first player unable to complete a turn is the winner.

This rule takes precedence over every other rule determining the winner.


301. Concerning the Comings and Goings of Players:

- Persons wishing to join this game of Nomic must make a request to the Keeper of the Mailing List (currently Shawn Zimmerman). The KotML shall, during the next Proposition Phase, inform the Chairperson of any such requests. The Chairperson shall include such requests with the regular proposals, and they will be voted upon in keeping with the other rules. A unanimous vote shall be required for a new player to join.

- A player who wishes to depart this game need only make such a request of the current Chairperson. The departing player is immediately removed from consideration in the game. All of the departing player's points (positive or negative) shall be contributed to a Government Surplus (or Deficit).


302. Mr. Simpson is a big meany!


This page maintained by Mark Simpson who can be reached via email.
Please read my disclaimer.

$Date: 1999/03/18 00:57:22 $