Consensus

Taking general feelings.

Consensus is a system used in co-ops to decide something with a large(ish) group of people.

A rough guide to the process (corrections welcome):

those leading the discussion (i.e. a DLEC or HLEC) will give background information on the topic
anyone with a "clarifying question" or a proposal to make can raise a hand and voice it
- anyone with a "direct response" (which must be factual) can raise a hand and answer the question
eventually, someone will propose to "open stack" (which is when opinions and)
- "general feelings" on opening stack are taken; if it passes:
stack is opened, and anyone may raise a hand and be added to the list of people to speak
- more clarifying questions, direct responses and proposals may be voiced
eventually, someone will propose to "close stack and vote"
- general feelings are taken; if it passes:
general feelings are taken on each proposal to eliminate unlikely proposals
- if proposals that pass are mutually exclusive, they are voted on again
consensus is reached!
however, anyone with a "strong concern" (strong disagreement or what have you) to the decision may voice it, and the decision-making process may begin again
finally, anyone with a "major objection" (moral or religious or what have you) to the decision may voice it either publically or privately to one of the discussion leaders, and the decision may be revoked and another discussion called