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Screening Committee

The Screening Committee is a core governance body within House of Stake (HoS). It serves as the first layer of review and quality assurance for proposals, delegates, and governance processes — ensuring that all actions align with the Mission, Vision, and Values of House of Stake and comply with the Constitution and associated charters.

This group acts as a filter and guardian of integrity, maintaining a balance between efficiency, transparency, and due diligence.

Current Status: Interim Screening Committee​

The Interim Screening Committee (ISC) operates under the mandate of the NEAR Foundation, in accordance with the NEAR House of Stake – Screening Committee Charter v0.1.0. Its mission is to uphold the integrity, neutrality, and effectiveness of House of Stake governance until a community-elected committee replaces it.

The committee is responsible for:

  • Reviewing all submitted proposals within seven (7) days of final submission.
  • Evaluating proposals based on:
    • Technical feasibility
    • Stakeholder alignment
    • Policy and regulatory compliance
    • Risk management
    • Financial impact
    • Alignment with the HoS Mission, Vision, and Values
  • Approving or rejecting proposals for on-chain voting through an optimistic consent model: if no objections are raised within 24 hours, approval is assumed; if objections occur, a simple majority vote is required.
  • Managing the approval and removal of Endorsed Delegates.
  • Publishing all decisions and meeting notes for transparency.The Screening Committee is a core governance body within House of Stake (HoS). It serves as the first layer of review and quality assurance for proposals, delegates, and governance processes — ensuring that all actions align with the Mission, Vision, and Values of House of Stake and comply with the Constitution and associated charters.

This group acts as a filter and guardian of integrity, maintaining a balance between efficiency, transparency, and due diligence.

Current Status: Interim Screening Committee​

The Interim Screening Committee (ISC) operates under the mandate of the NEAR Foundation, in accordance with the NEAR House of Stake – Screening Committee Charter v0.1.0. Its mission is to uphold the integrity, neutrality, and effectiveness of House of Stake governance until a community-elected committee replaces it.

The committee is responsible for:

  • Reviewing all submitted proposals within seven (7) days of final submission.
  • Evaluating proposals based on:
    • Technical feasibility
    • Stakeholder alignment
    • Policy and regulatory compliance
    • Risk management
    • Financial impact
    • Alignment with the HoS Mission, Vision, and Values
  • Approving or rejecting proposals for on-chain voting through an optimistic consent model: if no objections are raised within 24 hours, approval is assumed; if objections occur, a simple majority vote is required.
  • Managing the approval and removal of Endorsed Delegates.
  • Publishing all decisions and meeting notes for transparency.

Committee Composition​

The Interim Screening Committee consists of five members, appointed by the NEAR Foundation. Membership may change during the interim period, and any member may step down with seven (7) days’ public notice on the governance forum.

Current Members:

  • Bianca Guimaraes-Chadwick (NEAR Foundation)
  • Lane Rettig (NEAR Foundation)
  • Bowen Wang (Near One)
  • Gauntlet (1 seat)
  • [Fifth seat – will be added]

The Interim Committee will remain in effect until May 31, 2026, or until replaced by a community-elected Screening Committee developed in accordance with the process defined in the Constitution (Article 9.2).

What Happens Next​

The top priority moving forward is the transition from a Foundation-appointed interim body to a community-elected Screening Committee. This process will be implemented through a co-created replacement charter and open elections.

If this transition is not completed by May 31, 2026, the interim committee will automatically lose its constitutional authority under the Constitution.

Responsibilities of the Screening Committee​

1. Proposal Review & Governance Flow​

  • Review and publish decisions on all proposals within seven (7) days.
  • Provide clear reasoning for each decision in the governance forum.
  • Approve only proposals that meet all review criteria.
  • Allow an appeal process — rejected proposals may still advance with support from at least three endorsed delegates.
  • Filtering mechanism: proposals rejected by the Committee must achieve a 75% community supermajority to pass.

2. Delegate Oversight​

  • Conduct quarterly reviews of Endorsed Delegate applications and activity.
  • Monitor performance, transparency, and compliance with the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.
  • Remove delegates who fail to meet performance or governance standards.

3. Transparency & Reporting​

  • Log and publish all decisions, summaries, and rationales within seven (7) days.
  • Publicly record all approvals, rejections, removals, and appointments.
  • Any member may post clarifications or updates regarding their role on the governance forum.

4. Meetings & Operations​

  • Decisions follow an optimistic consent model (assumed approved unless objected to).
  • Quorum requires three members, or two members plus the Head of Governance, who may act as a tie-breaker.
  • The committee may appoint a Chair from among its members.
  • When necessary, the committee may appoint third parties to lead specific projects or deliverables.

Transition to a Community-Led Model​

After the approval of a new co-created charter, community elections will be held to form a community-elected Screening Committee. The interim body will disband immediately after the first election, ensuring a transparent and smooth transition.

Transparency & Accountability​

The Screening Committee operates under the House of Stake Code of Conduct and the Constitution. All members are expected to uphold principles of transparency, neutrality, and accountability. Violations of these standards may result in removal, as outlined in the Constitution (Article 5.2). Compensation and reimbursements follow the governance transparency standards established in Article 5 (Integrity, Conflicts of Interest, and Accountability) of the Constitution.