Understanding the Root Level and Team Dynamics in Fairdrive DAO

In the context of Colony (and similarly applied in Fairdrive DAO), the concept of "Root" is integral to understanding the overall structure and governance model. The "Root" is not merely another team like the Marketing or Development teams; rather, it serves as the highest authority level within the DAO's hierarchy. It oversees the entire DAO and has the ultimate say in decisions, permissions, and the structure itself. Here’s a breakdown to clarify the distinctions and the role of the "Root" level versus teams like the Governance team:

What is the Root Level?

• Root Level: This is the topmost layer of authority within the DAO. It's where the most critical and wide-reaching decisions are made, affecting the DAO as a whole. The Root level has the power to mint tokens, allocate global permissions, manage recovery, and more. It's essentially the administrative backbone of the DAO, ensuring that the overarching rules and structures are in place for the DAO to function effectively and securely.

• Governance Team: While the Governance team is a crucial component within the DAO, particularly in Fairdrive, it operates under the permissions and authority granted by the Root level. This team focuses on the operational aspects of governance, such as managing the treasury, overseeing legal and accounting matters, and ensuring the DAO remains aligned with its mission and vision. They execute governance processes within the framework established by the Root.

Relationship Between Root Level and Teams

When you complete work within (let's say) the Marketing team and are rewarded with DRIVE tokens, gaining reputation in the process, you primarily enhance your standing within the Marketing team. This signifies your contributions and influence within that specific domain. However, a proportion of the reputation you earn also accrues at the Root level.

Here’s why this dual-layer reputation system is important:

• Reputation at the Team Level: Your reputation in the Marketing team reflects your direct contributions and influence within that specific area. It's crucial for decisions and governance processes that are specific to marketing strategies, campaigns, and initiatives.

• Reputation at the Root Level: Gaining reputation at the Root level, even as a member of the Marketing team, ties you into the broader governance of the DAO. This ensures that active members across all teams can have a say in DAO-wide decisions, not just those limited to their specific team. It democratizes the governance process, ensuring that contributions in any team reinforce your stake in the DAO's overarching governance.

To sum up, the "Root" is not just another name for the Governance team but represents the highest authority and administrative layer within the DAO. Earning reputation at the Root level, regardless of your primary team, integrates you more deeply into the DAO's overall decision-making process, reflecting a holistic approach to governance where contributions in any domain strengthen the organization's collective operations and future.