Wikipedia:Mediation Committee/Two oppose rule

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This page is intended as a brief explanation of the "two oppose rule" used in Mediation Committee nominations.

The Mediation Committee is a self-perpetuating official committee on the English Wikipedia, a part of the formal dispute resolution process. New committee members are selected from self-nominations made by interested parties, and generally run for several weeks. During that time, current and emeritus members of the Committee comment on and ask questions of the nominees, culminating in an offer of support or opposition; consideration is given to comments from outside the committee, but only Committee members may "vote" on candidates. Final approval is reserved to Jimbo Wales, although he rarely comments on nominees.

In the past, the Committee utilized a veto policy for nominations; any Committee member could veto the nomination of any candidate. This policy was changed in October 2005, removing the veto, and instead adopting a "two oppose rule". In short, if any two current or emeritus members of the committee express opposition to a candidate, the candidate's nomination cannot be accepted. This is not a bar to future nominations, but a safety valve that both prevents a candidate from being declined due to a single member's opinion, while at the same time ensuring that unqualified candidates will not be promoted.

Nominations which receive opposition from two or more Committee members are automatically declined and delisted, with the designation "per the two oppose rule".