What is Wikipedia's Arbitration Committee? What exactly does it do? How many members does it have?

The Arbitration Committee is a group of users that exists to impose binding solutions to Wikipedia disputes, which may be anything up to and including a ban from editing Wikipedia.

Arbitration is the last step in the dispute resolution process 鈥?it is a last resort, only to be employed when all else has failed. Try other steps first, including discussion between disputants and, where appropriate, mediation. The Arbitration Committee only deals with the most serious disputes and cases of rule-breaking.

Until the beginning of 2004, Jimbo Wales dealt with all serious disputes and was the only person with the authority to ban users who were not engaging in simple vandalism (straight-forward vandals could be blocked by any administrator). This role has now largely been passed to the Arbitration Committee. Jimbo wrote:

"The Arbitration Committee [...] can impose a solution that I'll consider to be binding, with of course the exception that I reserve the right of executive clemency and indeed even to dissolve the whole thing if it turns out to be a disaster. But I regard that as unlikely, and I plan to do it about as often as the Queen of England dissolves Parliament against their wishes, i.e., basically never, but it is one last safety valve for our values."
Members
The number of active Committee members affects the number of Arbitrators needed to reach a ruling. For example, if seven Arbitrators are active, then four votes are needed to reach a majority decision. If ten are active, then six votes are needed, etc. (In general, if an even number of members vote on a proposal and there is a tie vote, the proposal is not adopted. In this circumstance, the Arbitrators may ask Jimbo Wales to cast a tie-breaking vote, but this has yet to occur.)

The Committee has also decided against having a chairperson.

Status of members is either Active or Inactive (no Arbitration activity in the last two weeks, or or a statement indicating inactivity).

Active
Charles Matthews (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (charles.r.matthewsntlworld.com)
FloNight (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Fred Bauder (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Jdforrester (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (James Forrester aka "James F.", jdforrestergmail.com)
Jpgordon (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (Josh Gordon, user.jpgordongmail.com)
Kirill Lokshin (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Mackensen (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Morven (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (Matthew Brown, morvengmail.com )
Raul654 (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (Mark Pellegrini)

Inactive
Blnguyen (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Flcelloguy (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
Neutrality (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email) (Ben)
Paul August (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
SimonP (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)
UninvitedCompany (talk 鈥?contribs 鈥?email)

Elections
There have been four elections to date: July 2004 (only to fill two vacancies), December 2004, January 2006, and December 2006. The next election is scheduled for December 2007.


Selection process
The original Arbitration Committee was appointed by Jimbo Wales, primarily chosen from people who volunteered to help with the mediation and Arbitration processes. Arbitrators are chosen for appointment having been suggested through advisory elections; for temporary appointments to replace resignations, they are chosen after direct advice.

Arbitrators serve three-year terms on a rotating schedule, such that a "tranche" of five positions is up for re-appointment each year. In case of early departures, new Arbitrators are appointed to the partially-served, now empty, terms.

It should be noted that while appointments are generally to specified terms, all Arbitrators serve at Jimbo's discretion, and are not automatically removed at the expiration of those terms, but only by the appointment of a replacement or otherwise by Jimbo's will.


Former members
James W. Rosenzweig, aka Jwrosenzweig (did not seek re-election, December 2004)
The Cunctator (unsuccessful in election bid, December 2004)
Gutza (resigned, December 2004)
Martin Harper, aka MyRedDice (resigned, December 2004)
Lee Pilich, aka Camembert (resigned, December 2004)
Mark, aka Delirium (resigned, July 2005)
Steven Melenchuk, aka Grunt (resigned, July 2005)
Rebecca, aka Ambi (resigned, July 2005)
Daniel Mayer, aka Maveric149 (resigned, September 2005)
David Friedland, aka Nohat (resigned, September 2005)
Sannse (resigned, November 2005)
Kelly Martin (resigned, January 2006)
David Gerard (did not seek re-election, January 2006)
Fennec (did not seek re-election, January 2006)
Kat Walsh, aka Mindspillage (resigned, December 2006)
Jayjg (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
Sam Korn (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
Sean Barrett, aka The Epopt (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
Theresa Knott (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
Filiocht (on indefinite leave, December 2006)
Dmcdevit (resigned, February 2007)
Essjay (resigned, March 2007)