NEAR House of Stake - Interim Endorsed Delegate Charter

House of Stake Hack Humanity
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NEAR House of Stake - Interim Endorsed Delegate Charter

Version: v0.1.0 (Draft for Community Review)
Status: Interim
Expiration: May 31, 2026

Introduction

The Purpose of the Endorsed Delegate Charter

The Endorsed Delegate Charter defines the role, standards, and accountability framework for individuals who hold higher responsibility roles with their delegated voting power within the House of Stake (HoS).
It exists to ensure that representation in governance is transparent, credible, and aligned with the principles of neutrality, participation, and informed decision-making established in the Constitution.

Endorsed Delegates serve as trusted stewards of collective voice, helping translate diverse stakeholder perspectives into coherent, legitimate governance outcomes.
This Charter outlines how Endorsed delegates are selected, how their performance is reviewed, and what ethical and participatory expectations they must uphold in service of the NEAR ecosystem.

Note - the definition of the Constitution means the base Constitution document and all its component Charters, inlcuding this one.

Interim

During the interim phase, endorsement is administered by the Screening Committee as part of the broader Governance Transition Program.
Over time, authority for endorsement can shift to the community through a ratified process, ensuring that representation becomes progressively decentralized and inclusive.
By defining these responsibilities and transition mechanisms, the Endorsed Delegate Charter reinforces both the accountability of power and the credibility of participation in the evolution of decentralized governance.

It’s important to state the Endorsed Delegate structure is a starting point for House of Stake, should community want to change the Endorse Delegate concept completely they are free to do so via a proposal and vote.

Process

The process for creating the Interim Constitution is based on:

  1. The goal to bootstrap House of Stake with a minimum viable constitution
  2. Adherence to the NEAR Foundation provided starting mandate (view here)
  3. Alignment to the original Gauntlet proposal - NEAR House of Stake Governance Proposal (August 7, 2024)
  4. Referential integrity with the Bylaws of the NEAR House of Stake Foundation and Memorandum & Articles of Association

NEAR House of Stake - Endorsed Delegate Charter Draft v0.1.0

This Charter/Policy is subordinate to the NEAR House of Stake Interim Constitution v0.1.0. In the event of conflict, the Constitution prevails.

Article 1 — Purpose

  • 1.1. The Endorsed Delegate Charter establishes a trusted body of representatives within the NEAR House of Stake (HoS) to strengthen the credibility and coordination of delegated governance.
  • 1.2 While any veNEAR holder may act as a delegate, endorsement signals proven commitment, participation, and reliability, helping the community by actively stewarding discussion, synthesize perspectives, and uphold accountability in collective decision-making.
  • 1.3. During the interim phase, this endorsement functions as a stabilizing mechanism, ensuring transparent and values-aligned representation while the system transitions toward fully permissionless, community-driven legitimacy.

Article 1 Goal: Establish legitimacy and narrative clarity.

Article 2 — Authority

2.1. Mandate
Endorsed Delegates act as trusted representatives within the House of Stake, exercising delegated voting power on behalf of veNEAR holders.

2.2. Scope
Endorsed Delegates participate in governance deliberations, proposal voting, and delegate feedback cycles.

2.3. Accountability
Endorsed Delegates are subject to review, removal, and appeal processes administered by the Screening Committee until full decentralization.

2.4. Alignment
Delegates must operate in accordance with the NEAR Constitution, Mission Vision Values, and the Code of Conduct.

Article 2 Goal Prevent overreach and ambiguity in scope & authority.

Article 3 — Membership

3.1. Eligibility
Any Registered Voter (veNEAR holder) may apply to serve as an Endorsed Delegate.

3.2. Application Process
All applications must be posted publicly on the NEAR Governance Forum and include:

  • 3.2.1. A consistent governance identity (real name optional).
  • 3.2.2. A track record of NEAR ecosystem involvement or DAO governance experience.
  • 3.2.3. A declaration of conflicts of interest.
  • 3.2.4. A statement of governance philosophy and priorities.
  • 3.2.5. All applicants must provide disclosures required under Constitution Article 5.1.

3.3. Endorsement
Endorsement is managed by the Screening Committee during the interim period.

3.4 Review Cycles
Endorsed Delegates are reviewed quarterly by the Screening Committee as defined in the Screening Committee Charter Article 4.2.

3.5. Additions and Removals

  • 3.5.1. The Screening Committee may endorse new Delegates at any time as capacity allows.
  • 3.5.2. Endorsed Delegates may be removed at any time for breaches of Code of Conduct, inactivity, or misrepresentation.

3.6. Appeal
Removed Endorsed Delegates may appeal by reapplying or submitting a Decision Proposal for appellate review.

Article 3 Goal: Ensure clarity in membership composition.

Article 4 — Responsibilities

4.1. Participation
Vote in at least 80 percent of all House of Stake Proposals.

4.2. Rationale
Publish reasoning for votes within the Governance Forum during each cycle.

4.3. Engagement
Participate actively in deliberations, discussions, and community calls.

4.4. Transparency
Adhere to the Conflict of Interest Policy and provide all relevant disclosures.

4.5. Conduct
The House of Stake Code of Conduct applies to all governance participants. It defines standards for transparency, conflict of interest, respectful engagement, and accountability. Violations may trigger removal as per the Constitution Article 5.2.

Article 4 Goal: Clarify community agreements for participants.

Article 5 — Transparency and Accountability

5.1. Incentives
Compensation and reimbursement for governance roles follow the disclosure and transparency standards outlined in Constitution Article 5 (Integrity, Conflicts of Interest, and Accountability).

5.2. Disclosure
Any direct compensation or material benefits must be disclosed publicly to maintain transparency and trust.

5.3. Reporting
All voting activity and reasoning must be logged publicly within seven days of execution or posting to the Governance Forum.

Article 5 Goal: Make power visible.

Article 6 — Transition of Authority

6.1. Interim Authority
The Screening Committee manages endorsement and oversight during the interim period.

6.2. Transition
A co-created replacement charter will outline a community-developed process for ongoing approval, removal, and oversight of members.

6.3. Expiry
Failure to transition by May 31, 2026 will terminate interim authority for Endorsed Delegates as defined under the Interim Constitution.

Article 6 Goal: Establish an agreement for removing interim privileges.

Article 7 — Interpretation and Dispute Resolution

7.1 All disputes or appeals are governed by NEAR House of Stake Constitution Article 11. Charters shall defer to that process for binding interpretation and resolution.

Article 7 Goal: Prevent procedural paralysis or legitimacy crises.

:speaking_head: Call to Action

Community participation is essential to establishing the legitimacy and effectiveness of this governance framework.

Feedback

Feedback below this post is welcome now.
Note - Feedback provided before the Mainnet V1 launch may be considered, but is not guaranteed to be included in the Interim Constitution; however, your feedback will be considered in the Community co-created version of the Constitution.

Timeline

Date Milestone
October 10 Constitution Co-creation Cycle 1 Begins
October 20 Target Constitution Co-creation Workshop Date
October 28 Open Feedback Period Ends
November 4 Constitution Co-creation Cycle 1 Ends

Conclusion

The Interim Constitution is required for the House of Stake DAO to begin collective decision-making.

It will be replaced by a Community Co-created version.

Your participation now shapes the foundation for NEAR’s next era of decentralized governance.

Below is a nonexhaustive list of Key Focus Areas to consider for Expanded Legitimacy in the replacement Community Co-created version:

Addendum: Key Focus Areas for Expanded Legitimacy of Replacement Version

1. Automate Transparency and Reporting

Replace manual participation logging with automated data capture directly in the governance portal.
Real-time dashboards should display vote rates, rationale submissions, and engagement metrics for every delegate.

2. Define Clear Pathways for Direct Stakeholder Feedback

Specify who collects, verifies, and publishes participation data.
Codify standards for accuracy, frequency, and responsibility to ensure consistency across review cycles.

3. Introduce Adaptive Performance Reviews

Make the quarterly review cadence flexible - allow expedited or extended cycles based on system activity or governance load.
Reviews should evolve with network maturity rather than follow rigid intervals.

4. Institutionalize Feedback Loops

Require post-cycle “delegate retrospectives” that analyze how endorsement criteria affect proposal quality and voter engagement.
Use these findings to refine endorsement standards each term.

5. Link Incentives to Measurable Outcomes

Where there is compensation, tie compensation directly to performance indicators such as participation rate, rationale completeness, and engagement quality.
Publish quarterly cost and outcome reports to ensure economic accountability.

6. Enhance Legitimacy and Role Identity

Reframe delegates as civic stewards and deliberative representatives, not only technical voters.
This strengthens the social contract and reinforces the moral authority of the role.

7. Expand Participatory Input in Endorsements

Enable citizens to nominate or comment on delegate candidates before endorsement.
This open consultation increases community ownership and transparency in representation.

8. Commit to Open-Access and Renewal Mechanisms

Prevent elite capture by introducing time-limited endorsements or periodic reaffirmation votes once decentralized governance is live.
Every delegate’s mandate should be renewably earned.

9. Preserve Institutional Memory and Public Archives

Establish clear standards for retaining delegate voting histories, rationales, and review outcomes.
Maintain searchable public archives to ensure long-term transparency and learning continuity.

10. Hybrid Human & AI delegates co-operate and co-govern House of Stake

Explore, experiment and establish the means and mechanisms for humans and AI to co-govern and co-operate the role and functions of a delegate in House of Stake.

:memo: Authorship & Acknowledgements

Authored by: @KlausBrave & @disruptionjoe - @HackHumanity
Review and feedback from: House of Stake Core team, NEAR Foundation, Gauntlet, Agora

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4.6 Endorsed Delegates are required to submit a monthly report on their work, including the performance metrics outlined above. Failure to provide these reports or failure to meet the agreed performance metrics will result in removal from the role of Endorsed Delegate.

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4.7 Endorsed Delegates are obligated to respond to any proposals or concerns raised by the community and review them properly.
They must avoid personal bias or subjective judgments and act with full neutrality and professionalism.

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Any minimum threshold?

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4.6 It is the responsibility of every endorsed delegate to actively attract and grow veNEAR delegations.
Therefore, an endorsed delegate shall be removed if they:
• Have zero veNEAR delegations, and/or
• Fail to increase their total delegated stake by at least 5% month-over-month.

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Thank you all for the great feedback so far. The co-creation process is underway to design a replacement Endorsed Delegate Charter, which is the first step to replacing the Interim Endorsed Delegate Charter.

If you would like to join a live workshop to give feedback, please join the Constitution workshop this coming Monday where we will be taking feedback on this and the Screening Committee Charter as well as the Constitution itself.

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Thank you to the @HackHumanity team, this is a very strong Charter for the Endorsed Delegates. I have no suggested changes, only an endorsement of the inclusion of all sections, including the Amendments.

In particular I like these sections:

  • The 80% minimum vote participation (article 4.1) and published rationales (article 4.2), is a high bar compared to most DAO’s 60% governance participation requirement, however, it should be a higher bar for Endorsed Delegates who have been endorsed by the Screening Committee on behalf of the HoS. These Endorsed Delegates have a greater responsibility to provide entrusted governance participation and compliance to the CoC and COI.
  • There is a clear pathway for decentralization with timeline of the Charter expiring on May 31, 2026 (article 6.3) and it acknowledges that the community can completely change the concept via a proposal and vote.
  • The public application process (article 3.2), opens the Endorsed Delegate role to any veNEAR holder (article 3.1) with a track record of involvement is inclusive and provides a lower barrier to entry for any veNEAR holder to meet towards the eligibility requirements.

Great job on this Charter! Tks.

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I’d like to share my thoughts as a member of the community.
I truly believe that this document should be implemented as soon as possible. It will help make the process more transparent — allowing for the fair removal of inactive endorsed delegates while opening the door for new, active members who genuinely want to contribute to the ecosystem.

Unfortunately, at the moment, we can see that some of the endorsed delegates are not very active. At the same time, there are other community members who actively participate in workshops and discussions — and who would love to have the opportunity to gain the status of an endorsed delegate.

I also completely understand the other side of the situation. The current delegates were selected about a year ago and have been working without any compensation since then. That deserves great respect! After such a long period without clear incentives, it’s absolutely natural that motivation may have decreased for some.

That’s why I think it would make sense to include in this document a section about potential incentives for delegates. These incentives don’t necessarily have to be monetary — they can be meaningful non-financial rewards, such as:

  • free attendance and participation in NEAR or House of Stake conferences,

  • promotion of delegates’ personal brands through official NEAR channels (like the NEAR X/Twitter account),

  • or other forms of public recognition and appreciation.

I’m very grateful to all the endorsed delegates for their effort and time invested in building and developing HoS. Thanks to their work, the House of Stake has become a reality :heart:

However, now we are entering a new stage, and the role of endorsed delegates is becoming especially important. I hope we can find the right balance — supporting active participants, inspiring current delegates, and allowing new community members to step up and contribute.

I’d also love to hear everyone’s thoughts and suggestions — especially ideas for meaningful incentives and ways to keep delegates motivated. Together, I’m sure we can make this process fair, inspiring, and truly alive :seedling:

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Only not monetary . Overall I agree regarding removing inactive delegates including people who has zero delegated veNear tokens.

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:puzzle_piece: Next Workshops for Community Co-Creation

We’re entering a new round of community co-creation workshops to advance the key governance charters and policy documents. These sessions are open to all contributors and stakeholders to help finalize drafts before ratification can happen.

Screening Committee & Endorsed Delegate Charter Co-Creation

We will run this across two sessions for maximum accessibility across time zones:

:spiral_calendar: First session: Mon 10 Nov at 12:00–13:30 UTC
America: 0600 CST / 0700 EST / 0900 GMT-3
Europe: 1200 GMT / 1300 CET / 1400 EET
Asia/Pacific: 1730 IST / 2000 HKT / 0100⁺¹ NZDT
:right_arrow: Register here

:spiral_calendar: Second session: Mon 10 Nov at 17:00–18:30 UTC
America: 0900 PST / 1000 MST / 1100 CST / 1200 EST / 1400 GMT-3
Europe: 1700 GMT / 1800 CET / 1900 EET
Asia/Pacific: 2230 IST / 0100⁺¹ HKT / 0600⁺¹ NZDT
:right_arrow: Register here

Each session will include short briefings, facilitated discussions, and development of a decision-matrix to provide easy to understand guides for the high-level decisions needed to draft replacements.

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