View source for Wikipedia:Formal organization

{{Selfref|For Wikipedia's administration of editing, see {{srlink|Wikipedia:Editing environment}}.}}
{{For|information on the administrative structure of Wikipedia|Wikipedia:Administration}}
{{Guidance essay|WP:FORMORG}}
{{Nutshell|Who does what on Wikipedia? What does  Wikipedia say itself about its own formal organizational structure?}}
The formalities of [[Wikipedia:Administration|Wikipedia administration]] are described, with links to the appropriate Wikipedia pages. This information can be helpful to Wikipedia contributors in understanding how Wikipedia is organized.

No attempt is made to evaluate whether Wikipedia is in fact governed in the way it claims to be governed, nor is any attempt made to evaluate the adequacy of this structure to meet the ever-changing demands upon an online encyclopedia. This discussion is based entirely upon the English language Wikipedia; its applicability to other language Wikipedias has not been examined.

For a discussion on the various user access levels, see [[Wikipedia:User access levels]].

==Overview==
The contributors or ''editors'' of Wikipedia participate subject to a number of [[Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines |policies and guidelines]] governing behavior and content. These rules are supervised by various authorities: Jimmy Wales, nominally in a [[Wikipedia:Role_of_Jimmy_Wales |position of ultimate authority]], although he has deferred in most instances to the leadership of Wikipedia,<ref name=Wales>

{{cite web |title =Wikipedia:Banning policy – Appeals and discussions |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Appeals_and_discussions |quote=While any arbitration decision may be nominally appealed to Jimbo Wales, it is exceedingly unusual for him to intervene. |publisher=Wikipedia |date=1 December 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-02}}

</ref><ref name=Wales2>

{{cite web |title=Wikipedia Governance |author=Jimmy Wales |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_Governance |quote=Final policy decisions are up to me, as always. But the license provides a strong counter-balance to my power...I must listen carefully to all elements of the community, and make decisions that are satisfactory to the best interests of the encyclopedia as a whole. |date=2002 |accessdate=2011-12-04 |publisher=WikiMedia}}

</ref> the ~34<ref name=crats>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Bureaucrats#Current_bureaucrats |publisher=Wikipedia |title=Bureaucrats: current bureaucrats  |accessdate=2012-07-07}}

</ref> present [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats |Bureaucrats]] or ''Crats'', the ~700<ref name=Admins>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_administrators |title=List of administrators |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2012-07-07}}

</ref> active [[Wikipedia:Administrators |Administrators]] or ''Admins'', and another group called the [[Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee |Arbitration Committee]] or ''ArbCom'' with 15-18 members or ''Arbs'', depending upon the rules adopted each year. In July 2012 there were 14 active arbitrators identified, all of whom were administrators, although this is not a set rule.<ref name=ArbComs>

{{cite web |title=Members: active arbitrators |work=Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee#Members |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2012-07-07}}

</ref> The [https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home Wikimedia Foundation] or its designated agents also have authority to impose  bans against [[IP address]]es for pages, topics, or the entire site.<ref name=authority>
For example, see the table in {{cite web |title=Difference between bans and blocks |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Difference_between_bans_and_blocks |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-11-02}}
</ref> The Arbitration Committee "has no jurisdiction over official actions of the Wikimedia Foundation or its staff".<ref name=jurisdiction>
{{cite web |title=Jurisdiction|work=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Policy/Update and ratification |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Policy/Update_and_ratification&oldid=434141923#Arbitration_proceedings |date=13 June 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-14}}
</ref>

An up-to-date count of all Wikipedia participants in each functional capacity is maintained at [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians]].

===Editors===
Editors, or Wikipedians, are any regular contributor to Wikipedia, whether registered user or contributing through an IP address.

===Bureaucrats===
''[[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats|Bureaucrats]]'' or ''Crats'' are a category introduced in 2004, and have only a few limited activities. Among these, they may remove Administrators if so instructed by the Arbitration Committee, and appoint Administrators and Bureaucrats following a selection procedure. Selection follows a discussion process, Bureaucrats decide what criteria constitute a "consensus" upon appointment, at the end of which a Bureaucrat reviews the situation to see whether there is a "consensus". For appointment of Bureaucrats, consensus must exceed ~85%, but final judgment is one of Bureaucrat discretion.<ref>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_bureaucratship#About_RfB |work=Wikipedia:Requests for bureaucratship |title=About RfB  |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-12-05}}

</ref> As a result, Bureaucrats have almost complete control over [[Wikipedia:Requests for adminship#About RfB|appointment of new Bureaucrats]]. The number of newly appointed Bureaucrats has steadily declined over the years, with only two [[Wikipedia:Successful_bureaucratship_candidacies#2011 |successful candidacies]] in 2011. Bureaucrats serve indefinitely.

===Administrators===
The activities of ''[[Wikipedia:Administrators|Administrators]]'' or ''Admins'' are described in a [[Wikipedia:Administrators%27_how-to_guide |how-to guide]] instructing Administrators on the use of their powers. One authority is the ability to block users' [[IP address]]es or IP address ranges to enforce ''bans'' or to prevent disruption of the project.<ref name= health>
{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy#Blocks_should_be_preventative |title=Blocks should be preventative |work=Wikipedia:Blocking policy |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=Jan 6, 2012}}
</ref>  Blocks by an Administrator "must supply a clear and specific block reason that indicates why a user was blocked."<ref name=reason>
{{cite web |title=Notifying the blocked user |work=Wikipedia:Blocking policy |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy#Notifying_the_blocked_user |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2012-02-29}}
</ref> Although a reason for a block must be given, there is no formal requirement for advance notice. A number of [[Wikipedia:Template_messages/User_talk_namespace/Blocks |templates for common explanations]] are available, and further explanation by the Admin is not required.

There is a distinction between a [[Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Decision_to_ban |''ban'']] and a [[Wikipedia:Blocking_policy |''block'']]. One difference is that, unless imposed directly by Jimmy Wales or the Wikimedia Foundation, a ban requires "consensus",<ref name=ban>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Decision_to_ban |title=Decision to ban |work=Wikipedia:Banning policy |accessdate=2012-01-03 |date=5 December 2011}}

</ref>  while a block can be imposed by a single Administrator and prevents editing to some degree, large or small.<ref name=difference>

The distinction is between a ruling and its enforcement. "Blocking should not be confused with banning, a formal retraction of editing privileges on all or part of Wikipedia. Blocks disable a user's ability to edit pages; bans do not. However, users who breach a ban (edit while banned) are likely to be blocked to enforce the ban on them." Although a block can prevent editing of the entire site, a blocked editor is not "banned" from the site and remains a member of the community. See {{cite web |title=Wikipedia:Banning policy – Difference between bans and blocks |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Difference_between_bans_and_blocks |publisher=Wikipedia |date=1 December 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-03}}

</ref> Another difference is that a ban is a formal warning outlining restrictions under which a contributor may edit without sanction but, unlike a block, does not impose such restrictions directly. Enforcement occurs should it happen that an individual Administrator judges the ban has been violated. Upon that conclusion, without further consultation, that Administrator can impose sanctions suggested in the ban to enforce that ban.<ref name=ban/> If such action results in a block, "Unblocking will almost never be acceptable when the block is explicitly enforcing an active [[Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests|Arbitration remedy]] and there is not ArbCom authorization or 'a clear, substantial, and active consensus of uninvolved editors at a community discussion noticeboard (such as [[Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard]] or [[Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents]])'"<ref name=Enforcement>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case&diff=prev&oldid=349939789#2._ArbCom_Enforcement_Motion |title= §2. ArbCom Enforcement Motion |work=Case against editor: 'A Nobody' |accessdate=2012-01-04 |date=14 March 2010}}

</ref>
[[File:Applicants for adminship.png|thumb|Number of Wikipedians applying for Administrator privileges on English Wikipedia. (Data from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Unsuccessful_adminship_candidacies_%28Chronological%29 Wikipedia].)]]
Another activity of Administrators is the granting of [[Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions |permissions]] to contributors to augment their editing capabilities.

The [[Wikipedia:Administrators#Becoming_an_administrator |nomination and selection]] of Administrators is supervised by Bureaucrats, who decide whether, in their opinion, a candidate has garnered sufficient support in the discussion of a candidacy, a process like that for appointing Bureaucrats. A "consensus" exceeding ~70% is required, but the judgement of Bureaucrats is the deciding factor. A [[Wikipedia:Unsuccessful_adminship_candidacies_%28Chronological%29 |list of unsuccessful requests]] shows the number of refusals peaked at 543 in 2006 with 353 acceptances, and has steadily declined since as the number of applicants has dropped off, with only 155 refusals and 75 acceptances in 2010, and 88 refusals and 52 acceptances as of 2011 (about a 3.4% increase in membership).

Administrators serve indefinitely, but can have their administrative status removed by Bureaucrats if the Arbitration Committee formally requests it.<ref>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Bureaucrats#Removal_of_permissions |work=Wikipedia:Bureaucrats |title=Removal of permissions  |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-10-16}}

</ref> "Throughout the history of the project, there has been a convention that adminship may be removed only in cases of clear abuse."<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_de-adminship#Past_history |work=Wikipedia:Requests for de-adminship |title=Past history |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-10-16}}
</ref> A possible exception to the "clear abuse" criterion is the [[Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Motion:_re_SlimVirgin#Restriction_on_arbitration_enforcement_activity  |Restriction on arbitration enforcement activity]], which appropriates to the Arbitration Committee the power to limit an Administrator's activities whenever the Arbitration Committee deems that Administrator "consistently make[s] questionable enforcement administrative actions", and to decommission the Administrator if they override another Administrator's actions without the Arbitration Committee's written authorization or "clear, substantial, and active consensus of uninvolved editors".<ref name=recall>

See also: {{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Reversal_of_bans |publisher=Wikipedia |title=Wikipedia:Banning_policy – Reversal of bans |date=1 December 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-02}}
</ref>

As of 2009 there had been 47 removals during the history of WP, and following 2009 no public record has been maintained of these actions.<ref>

{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_de-adminship#Cases |title=Wikipedia:Requests for de-adminship |accessdate=2011-10-15 |publisher=Wikipedia}}

</ref> Of the approximately 1,526 Administrators empowered, 207 (or 13.5%) have declared themselves open to recall under circumstances devised by themselves.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_administrators_open_to_recall |publisher=Wikipedia |title=Category:Wikipedia administrators open to recall |accessdate=2011-10-15}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wikipedia:Administrators open to recall |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators_open_to_recall |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-12-01}}</ref>

There is a provision for possible removal of inactive Administrators, but "if the user returns to Wikipedia, they may be resysopped by a bureaucrat without further discussion".<ref name=StaleAdmins>
{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators#Procedural_removal_for_inactive_administrators |title=Wikipedia:Administrators – Procedural removal for inactive administrators |publisher=Wikipedia |date=24 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-02}}
</ref>

Although attempts have been made to implement a community-based removal of Administrators,<ref>

For example, {{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_de-adminship/RfC |title=Wikipedia:Community de-adminship/RfC |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-10-20}} See also these discussions: {{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Administrator/Admin_Recall |publisher=Wikipedia |title=Wikipedia:WikiProject Administrator/Admin Recall |date=22 January 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-02}} and also {{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Administrator/Five_Problems_with_a_Single_Solution |title=Wikipedia:WikiProject Administrator/Five Problems with a Single Solution |publisher=Wikipedia |date=3 August 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-02}}

</ref> none has ever been agreed upon.

===Arbitration Committee===
{{See also|Wikipedia:Editing environment}}
[[File:Blocks per day 2012.png|thumb|Average number of blocks/day each month in 2012. Data from [[Special:BlockList| English Wikipedia]].]]
[[File:WP Requests for Arbitration.png|thumb|150px|Requests by Wikipedians for formal [[Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests|full arbitration cases]] by year on English Wikipedia. Sanctions are imposed by other mechanisms as well. (Data from [[Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Statistics 2011|Wikipedia]].)]]
Members of the ''[[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee|Arbitration Committee]]'' (referred to as ''ArbCom''), or ''Arbs'', act in concert or in sub-groups to impose binding solutions to conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve, mainly by defining what constitutes a violation in such disputes and imposing sanctions, such as [[Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Decision_to_ban|bans]] and [[Wikipedia:Blocking_policy |blocks]] upon users.

[[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee|ArbCom]] has very wide latitude in adjudication, as indicated by the following freedoms: ArbCom is free to widen or to divert a case to any subject of their choosing.<ref name=anything>

{{cite web |quote=all actions and general conduct, not merely the direct issue, may be taken into account |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration |title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide to arbitration |accessdate=2012-05-31}}

</ref> They are empowered to rule preemptively based upon conjectures about the future.<ref name=choice>

{{cite web |quote= Arbitrators focus on the risk and benefits for the future, not on past issues. |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration |title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide to arbitration |accessdate=2012-06-07}}

</ref><ref name=WhoSaid>
{{cite web |quote=...the committee is more likely to consider if a user can change, or what restrictions would be of benefit to the project, than on who said what in the past |title=Arbitration is intended to serve Wikipedia |work=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide to arbitration  |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate =2012-07-07}}
</ref> Rulings need not follow guidelines and policies; deliberations are ''not'' based upon the "rule of law".<ref name= courtcase>

{{cite web |quote=Arbitration is not a court case |title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide to arbitration |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration|accessdate=2012-05-31}} [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration&diff=495295507&oldid=495294622 Recently changed] to read: '''''Arbitration is not a legal process'''''

</ref><ref name=case>

{{cite web |quote=The rules are principles, not laws, on Wikipedia. Policies and guidelines exist only as rough approximations... |title=Wikipedia:The rules are principles |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:The_rules_are_principles |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate =2011-10-21}}

</ref> They are free to adopt opinion,<ref name=people>

{{cite web |quote=A person's general manner, past actions or incidents, and the impressions of them by reasonable people, may all be used to guide the Arbitrators. |title=Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide to arbitration |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Guide_to_arbitration|accessdate=2012-05-31}}

</ref> and are not required to assess "who said what in the past".<ref name=WhoSaid/>

Though disputes commonly arise over ''content'', with the exception of [[Wikipedia:Banning_policy#Topic_ban|topic bans]] the Arbitration Committee explicitly excludes all content issues from their deliberations and focuses upon disciplinary actions.<ref name=conduct>{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Arbitration_Enforcement/Standards_and_principles#Conduct_and_content_disputes |title=Conduct and content disputes |work=Wikipedia:WikiProject Arbitration Enforcement/Standards and principles |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-10-25}} "...arbitration enforcement is set up only to address ''user conduct problems'', not ''disputes about content''."</ref>

::''The difference between edit warring as disruptive behavior and as an attempt to straighten out what an article says may depend upon who is considering the issue.''<ref name=Ayers2>
{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lHdi1CEPLb4C&pg=PA403 |page=403 |title=How Wikipedia works: and how you can be a part of it |author1=Phoebe Ayers |author2=Charles Matthews |author3=Ben Yates |publisher=No Starch Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1593271763}}</ref>

Although [[Wikipedia:Edit warring|edit warring]] in principle refers to article editing, in practice it is considered disruptive to argue too much on the Talk page as well, and extended discussion may be viewed as [[Wikipedia:Tendentious_editing#One_who_repeats_the_same_argument_without_convincing_people |tendentious editing]], or [[Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing#Failure_or_refusal_to_.22get_the_point.22|refusal to get the point]], or interfering with consensus,<ref name=interference>
"Disruptive editors sometimes [use] several practices when disrupting articles:... Their edits are largely confined to talk-pages, such disruption may not directly harm an article, but it often prevents other editors from reaching consensus on how to improve an article." {{cite web |title=Attempts to evade detection |work=Wikipedia:Disruptive editing |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disruptive_editing#Attempts_to_evade_detection |accessdate=May 27, 2012 |publisher=Wikipedia}}

</ref> all forms of misconduct and therefore subject to discipline.

Aside from enforcing an end to disputes, the Arbitration Committee can expunge material from any form of usual access, or give specific users the ability to remove some types of edits from the revision history, for example, material considered defamatory.<ref name=oversight>
{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Oversight |title=Wikipedia:Oversight |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2011-12-02}}
</ref> These powers also can be exercised by Stewards of Wikimedia.<ref name=suppression>
{{cite web |title=Oversight policy |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Hiding_revisions |date=13 January 2012 |publisher=Wikimedia |accessdate=2012-03-03}}

</ref>

The Arbitration Committee can request Bureaucrats to exercise de-Adminship under the circumstances described under ''Administrators''.

Arbitrators are [[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee elections|elected annually]] in one-year or overlapping two-year terms, and also can be appointed directly by Wales or the Wikimedia Foundation. The [[Wikipedia:Requests_for_comment/Arbitration_Committee_Elections_December_2011 |election rules]] are debated each year. Although nomination is subject only to rather [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee_Elections_December_2011&diff=469383785&oldid=468842468#Timeline broad criteria], in practice only Administrators have succeeded in being selected as Arbitrators.<ref name=ArbCom_roster>
For example, in 2012 all 13 active ArbCom members were Administrators. See {{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee&diff=478809604&oldid=476980442#Members |title=Members: Active arbitrators |work=Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee |publisher=Wikipedia |accessdate=2012-03-01}}
</ref>

===Wikimedia Foundation===

Wikipedia is one of a dozen projects of Wikimedia,<ref name=Wikimedia>
{{cite web |title=Welcome to Wikimedia |url=https://www.wikimedia.org/ |publisher=Wikimedia |accessdate=2011-12-07}}
</ref> an organization owned and operated by the [[Wikimedia Foundation]].<ref name=Foundation>
{{cite web |url=https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home  |title=Wikimedia Foundation home page |publisher=Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. |accessdate=2011-12-07}}
</ref> Among the functionaries of Wikimedia are the Stewards<ref name=Stewards>{{cite web |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stewards |title=Stewards |publisher=Wikimedia |accessdate=2011-12-05}}</ref> of the Wikimedia wikis who have complete access to the wiki interface on all Wikimedia wikis, including the ability to change any and all user rights and groups, view user information in cases of abuse, and so on; and the SysOps of the Wikimedia Meta-Wiki,<ref name=SysOp>
{{cite web |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/System_administrators |title=System Administrators |publisher=Wikimedia |accessdate=2011-12-05}}
</ref> who manage and maintain the Wikimedia Foundation servers. The tools used by the Stewards in exercising control over the wikis of Wikimedia are described in a handbook.<ref name=handbook>
{{cite web |title=Steward handbook |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Steward_handbook |publisher=Wikimedia |date=8 October 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-03}}
</ref> They are guided by the [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stewards_policy Stewards policy], and are [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Steward_elections elected].<ref name=Steward_election>
See also [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stewards/Elections this page], which lists the active Stewards.
</ref> Some indication of the control given to Stewards and System Administrators can be found on the Wikimedia web pages.<ref name=SysOpa>
{{cite web |title=System administrators–System administrator actions |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/System_administrators#System_administrator_actions |publisher=WikiMedia
|date=14 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-12-03}}</ref>

The overall control is by the ten-member [https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees Wikimedia Board of Trustees] of whom Jimmy Wales is Chairman Emeritus and a member. The present membership is found [https://m.wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees#Current_members here] and some historical data  [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Board_of_Trustees#Board_.2311:_July_2010.E2.80.93 here].

==References and notes==
<references/>

==General references==

*{{cite book |title=How Wikipedia Works: And How You Can Be a Part of It |author1=Phoebe Ayers |author2=Charles Matthews |author3=Ben Yates |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lHdi1CEPLb4C&printsec=frontcover |publisher=No Starch Press |isbn=978-1593271763 |year=2008}} A detailed discussion of how WP works by some believers in the project, including the arbitration processes. Some subsidiary web links are found [https://howwikipediaworks.com/ here].

*{{cite book |title=Wikipedia: The Missing Manual |author=John Broughton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h37N0BvkVSUC&printsec=frontcover |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc  |isbn=978-0596515164 |year=2008}} A "how-to" manual that besides mechanics of use, includes sections on dispute resolution over both content (Chapter 10: Resolving content disputes) and personal attacks (Chapter 11: Handling incivility and personal attacks). This book is available on WP as the article [[Help: Wikipedia: The Missing Manual]].

* {{cite book  |author= Andrew Lih |title= The Wikipedia Revolution: How a Bunch of Nobodies Created the World's Greatest Encyclopedia |year= 2009 |publisher= Aurum |location= London |isbn= 9781845134730 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39NOwajk3okC&printsec=frontcover}} Foreword by Jimmy Wales. An enthusiast's attempt at a history of Wikipedia, faulted for some gaffes by reviewers on Amazon.

*{{cite book |title=Wikis for Dummies |author1=Dan Woods |author2=Peter Thoeny |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCiBjSa8j0gC&pg=PT85 |chapter=Chapter 4: Using and improving the 800-pound gorilla of wikis, Wikipedia |pages=81 ''ff''   |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0470043998 |year=2007}} A basic "how-to" manual for readers and first-time contributors.

==See also==	
*[[Wikipedia:FAQ/Administration]]
* [[Wikipedia:Editing environment|Editing environment]] - describes how Wikipedia is governed? What happens when content disputes 'boil over' into accusations of bad conduct?
* [[Wikipedia:Editorial discretion|Editorial discretion]] -  discusses how common sense and Wikipedia policy dictates that editors must practice discretion regarding the proper inclusion of relevant and well-sourced content.
* [[Wikipedia:Editor integrity|Editor integrity]] -  discusses how editors have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of Wikipedia and respect intellectual property rights of the sources they draw upon when they create and improve encyclopedia pages.
* [[Wikipedia:The essence of Wikipedia|The essence of Wikipedia]] – describes how Wikipedia is the harnessing of the collective intelligence and collaborative efforts of editors who hold opposing points of view, in an attempt to preserve all serious contributions which are reliably sourced.
* [[Wikipedia:The rules are principles|The rules are principles]] -  describes how policies and guidelines exist only as rough approximations of their underlying principles.
* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a community|Wikipedia is a community]] -  describes how there is nothing wrong with occasionally doing other things than writing the encyclopedia, and that community spirit is a positive thing.
* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia is a volunteer service|Wikipedia is a volunteer service]] - discusses how  editors on Wikipedia are mainly volunteers. Editors can contribute as much as they want, and however long they desire.
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&oldid=540966897#Should_WMF_employment_and_ArbCom_membership_intersect.3F Wikimedia Foundation and ArbCom]

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_power_structure |publisher=Wikimedia |title=Wikipedia power structure |accessdate=2011-12-26}}
*[https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:Projects#Most_recent_research_discussions Wikimedia research projects concerning Wiki activities]

{{citizendium|title=Wikipedia#Organization}}
{{Wikipedia accounts|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Essays about what Wikipedia is]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about administration]]
[[Category:Wikipedia information pages]]
[[Category:Wikipedia basic information]]
[[Category:Wikipedia FAQs]]
[[Category:Wikipedia features]]
[[Category:Wikipedia user access levels]]