Governance Module Documentation for the Synnq Ecosystem

Overview

The Governance Module in the Synnq Ecosystem is designed to manage decentralized decision-making processes. It enables nodes within the network to submit, vote on, and implement proposals that can modify the network's behavior or update its models. This module ensures that changes to the network are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and secure manner.

Components and Responsibilities

1. Proposals (Proposal)

Proposals are the core entities in the governance process. They are submitted by nodes and outline specific changes or updates to the network. Each proposal goes through a voting process before it is either approved or rejected.

Key Attributes:

• ID: A unique identifier for each proposal.
• Proposer: The node that submitted the proposal.
• Changes: A ModelUpdate object that specifies the changes proposed.
• Description: A textual description of the proposal.
• Votes For/Against: Counts the number of votes in favor or against the proposal.
• Voting Deadline: The timestamp by which all votes must be cast.
• State: The current status of the proposal, which can be Pending, Approved, or Rejected.

2. Proposal States (ProposalState)

The state of a proposal reflects its current status in the governance process.

• Pending: The proposal is open for voting.
• Approved: The proposal has been accepted and will be implemented.
• Rejected: The proposal did not receive enough votes in favor and will not be implemented.

3. Governance Mechanism (Governance)

The Governance struct manages the entire lifecycle of proposals, from submission through voting to implementation. It acts as the coordinating entity that ensures the network's collective decisions are recorded and executed properly.

Key Functionalities:

• Proposal Submission: Nodes can submit proposals that suggest changes or improvements to the network. The submission includes details about the proposed changes, a description, and a voting deadline.

• Voting on Proposals: Nodes in the network can vote on active proposals. Each vote can be either in favor (votes_for) or against (votes_against) the proposal.

• Implementing Proposals: Once the voting period has ended, the Governance module checks the results. If a proposal receives more votes in favor than against, it is approved and the proposed changes are implemented. Otherwise, the proposal is rejected.

• Proposal Storage: All proposals, votes, and their states are stored securely in the distributed storage system. The Governance module ensures that this data is consistently updated and retrievable.

Use Cases and Workflows

Proposal Submission

1. Submit a Proposal:

   • A node submits a proposal by providing a ModelUpdate, a description of the proposed change, and a voting period.
   • The Governance module assigns a unique ID to the proposal, sets its initial state to Pending, and stores it in the distributed storage.

2. Record the Proposal:

   • The proposal is stored with its details, including the proposer, description, and voting deadline.

Voting Process

1. Cast a Vote:

   • Nodes vote on proposals by indicating support (votes_for) or opposition (votes_against).
   • The Governance module records each vote and updates the proposal’s vote tally.

2. Check Voting Eligibility:

   • Only proposals that are in the Pending state and within the voting period are eligible for voting.

3. Handle Voting Errors:

   • If a node attempts to vote on a non-existent or expired proposal, the Governance module logs the error and informs the node.

Proposal Implementation

1. Evaluate Voting Results:

   • After the voting period ends, the Governance module checks the proposal's votes.
   • If the proposal receives more votes in favor than against, it is marked as Approved. Otherwise, it is marked as Rejected.

2. Implement Approved Proposals:

   • For approved proposals, the changes specified in the ModelUpdate are applied to the network by the central server or coordinating node.

3. Update Proposal State:

   • The proposal’s state is updated to reflect its final status (Approved or Rejected) and is stored in the distributed storage for future reference.

Error Handling and Security

The Governance Module includes robust error handling mechanisms to manage potential issues such as invalid proposals, voting errors, or storage failures. Additionally, all proposals and votes are logged for transparency and auditability, ensuring that the governance process is secure and trustworthy.