# Link Roles

## Standard and Decision-Making Link Roles

[Note: this guidance is referred to by [Section C.7](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/link/1699#5.-choosing-role-holders---who-has-power-and-how-to-challenge-them) of the XR UK Constitution.]

### 1\. What Is a Link Role?

A Link Role is a role created by one circle to represent its mandate within another circle, and to pass information between the two circles.

### 2\. Key Definitions

**Source Circle**  
The circle that elects the Link Role. The role holder represents this circle in the Destination Circle.

**Destination Circle**  
The circle in which the Link Role sits and represents the Source Circle.

**Governance**  
Decisions that distribute or restrict authority (e.g. creating or changing mandates, policies or domains; creating, moving or dissolving roles or circles).

#### An Example

Operations has a link role to Systems & Cultures.

* Operations elects the link role → Operations is the **Source Circle**.  
* The link sits in Systems & Culture → Systems & Culture is the **Destination Circle**.  
* The link represents Operations’ mandate inside Systems & Culture.

The link does **not** make Systems & Culture accountable to Operations.  
 And Systems & Culture cannot set priorities inside Operations.

This reflects a core constitutional principle: authority must match accountability.

### 3\. Why Decision-Making Authority Is Limited

To understand why Link Roles have limited decision-making power, it helps to understand how accountability works between circles.

A Destination Circle can hold its own roles and sub-circles accountable — but it does not have the same authority over a Source Circle. The Destination Circle's Internal Coordinator, for example, cannot set the Source Circle's priorities or direct its work.

Because a Destination Circle cannot fully oversee a Source Circle, it would be problematic to give Link Roles — which represent that Source Circle — broad decision-making authority within the Destination Circle. Keeping that authority limited helps maintain clear lines of responsibility. 

### 4\. The Standard Link Role (Default)

This is the normal and recommended form.

In the example above, the Operations link to Systems & Culture would usually be a Standard Link Role.

#### Rules
**1\. A Link Role must be created in the Source Circle and approved in the Destination Circle using Integrative Decision Making (IDM).**

**2\. The role holder must be elected by the Source Circle.**

**3\. The maximum term is 6 months, after which a new election must be held. The same person may be re-elected.**

**4\. The role represents the mandate of the Source Circle, not individual views.**

**5\. A Standard Link Role does not take part in decision making in the Destination Circle.**  
This precludes voting, raising objection or other participation in governance or operational decisions.

**6\. The role holder retains full authority in the Source Circle (including governance), within their mandate.**

#### Standard Link Role Mandate

**Purpose**  
Information that helps the work of both circles is shared.

**Accountabilities**

* Representing the mandate of the Source Circle in the Destination Circle.  
* Helping information flow between the circles.  
* Communicating regularly with the External Coordinator of the Source Circle.

### 5\. The Decision-Making Link Role (Exceptional Case)

On rare occasions, there may be a compelling reason for the Destination Circle to include the Source Circle in certain operational decisions.

In that case, a Decision-Making Link Role may be used.

Using the example:

If Systems & Culture genuinely needed Operations to participate in certain operational decisions (but not governance), they could agree to use this model.

#### Rules

**1\. The Destination Circle must explicitly agree the link role is Decision-Making.**

**2\. A Decision-Making Link Role must be created and approved in each circle using IDM.**

**3\. The role holder must be elected by the Source Circle.**

**4\. The maximum term is 6 months, after which a new election must be held. The same person may be re-elected.**

**5\. The role represents the mandate of the Source Circle, not individual views.**

**6\. A Decision-Making Link Role may take part in non-governance decisions in the Destination Circle.**

**7\. A Decision-Making Link Role may not take part in governance decisions in the Destination Circle.**

**8\. The role holder retains full authority in the Source Circle (including governance) within their mandate.**

#### Decision-Making Link Role Mandate

**Purpose**  
The Source Circle’s mandate is well represented in the Destination Circle by sharing relevant information and contributing to non-governance decisions.

**Accountabilities**

* Representing the mandate of the Source Circle in the Destination Circle.  
* Taking part in non-governance decisions in the Destination Circle.  
* Helping information flow between the circles.  
* Communicating regularly with the External Coordinator of the Source Circle.

### 6\. Choosing the Type of Link

Use the Standard Link Role unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to.

Ask:

* Is information flow sufficient?  
* Is shared operational decision-making genuinely required?  
* Would granting decision power undermine the principle that authority must match accountability?

If unsure, choose Standard.