# Cult DAO: Code of Conduct

Cult DAO is relatively early in the development of its Governance, and therefore we must accept the challenges and the responsibility of contributing to a robust, dynamically responsive Governance framework that will support the execution of the Cult DAO Manifesto. The Cult DAO Code of Conduct is one of those additions to Governance and is designed to ensure that all members of the Cult DAO community can participate in the conversation and vote on governance proposals in a fair and transparent manner.

Therefore, the following Principles should be discussed by members of the DAO, and potentially between Cult DAO and its partners as we generate broad consensus. As with governance in general, this Code of Conduct should be adaptive, more like an organism (self-organizing system) than a rulebook. It should be self-consciously responsive to internal and external changes (and their dynamics) according to consensus-driven principles.

After a final version of the Code of Conduct is approved it must be strictly protected to prevent manipulation, infiltration, and interference by adversarial players, including Guardians with misaligned incentives and behavior. As the following principles are dissected and refined by the DAO, it will become obvious that the implementation of such principles will likely require develop of some additional infrastructure on our social layer:

1. Guardianship Voting: Guardians should not vote on proposals.

2. Identity Verification: Governance must be restricted to token-gated channels.

3. Mediation & Dispute Resolution: Facilitate discussions between members in noise-canceling spaces with the use of conflict mediation tools and dispute resolution processes.

4. Ban known Manipulators: Anyone proven to have engaged in manipulation, infiltration, or interference in Cult’s Governance in the past, will be banned from participating in Cult DAO. The community will maintain a list of banned individuals, which will be updated as needed.

5. Prevention of Multiple Voting: Cult DAO members must not use multiple wallet addresses to evade detection or vote multiple times on the same proposal.

6. Prohibition of Vote Buying and Coercion: Members must not attempt to influence or manipulate the voting process through tactics such as vote buying or vote coercion. The Cult DAO community will monitor for signs of such behavior and take appropriate action against any members proven to be engaging in these practices.

7. Use of Automated Scripts and Bots: Members must not use any form of automated scripts or bots to manipulate discussions and interfere with the voting process.

8. Confidentiality: Members must not disclose any sensitive information about Cult DAO or its members to any outside parties. This includes information about the identities of members, the results of votes, and the details of any proposals being considered. Violations of this rule will be treated as serious offenses and may result in permanent expulsion from Cult DAO.

9. Reputation: Members must not engage in any activities that could damage the reputation of the Cult DAO or its members. This includes participating in illegal or unethical activities, spreading misinformation about Cult DAO or its members, or engaging in behavior that is harmful to the community.

10. Respect for Majority Decisions: Members must respect the decisions of the majority and refrain from engaging in disruptive behavior. This includes disrupting meetings, spreading misinformation, or otherwise attempting to undermine the decision-making processes of Cult DAO.

11. Penalties: Violations of this Code of Conduct will result in penalties, including but not limited to temporary suspension of voting rights and permanent expulsion from Cult DAO. The severity of the penalty will depend on the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.

By adhering to this Code of Conduct, members of the Cult DAO community can work together to ensure that the governance process is fair, transparent, and free from manipulation and interference. The technical implementation of this Code of Conduct will involve the use of blockchain technology and smart contracts to enforce the rules and ensure compliance by all members. The final form of the Code of Conduct must derive clearly from the social bedrock of Cult DAO: The Manifesto, and the corresponding power and responsibility of The Many and The Guardianship.

With the initial draft of the Code of Conduct, I am assuming that progress happens in the form of iterating documents like this one and that “perfection” is the enemy of the good, hence why I am beginning here with a solid but simple foundation.

As such, any final version of the Code of Conduct must follow an Amendment Process. For example, the DAO might decide that adding an Article to the Code of Ethics should require a vote with some level of Sybil-resistant supermajority (for example, 90% approval vote).