Editing Consensus decision-making (section)

===Blocking===
[[File:Consensus flow chart.svg|thumb|250px|right|Flowchart of basic consensus decision-making process]]

Groups that require unanimity commonly use a core set of procedures depicted in this flow chart.<ref>{{cite web| url =  http://www.consensusdecisionmaking.org/ | title = The Basics of Consensus Decision Making | access-date = 17 February 2015 | date = 17 February 2015 | work = Consensus Decision Making | publisher =  ConsensusDecisionMaking.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/c-t-butler-and-amy-rothstein-on-conflict-and-consensus-a-handbook-on-formal-consensus-decisionm |title=What is Consensus? |access-date=17 January 2007 |year=2005 |publisher=The Common Place |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015105352/http://www.thecommonplace.org.uk/information.php?page=articles&iID=4 |archive-date=15 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =  http://seedsforchange.org.uk/free/consens#proc | title = The Process | access-date = 17 January 2007 | date = 1 December 2005 | work = Consensus Decision Making | publisher =  Seeds for Change }}</ref>

Once an agenda for discussion has been set and, optionally, the ground rules for the meeting have been agreed upon, each item of the agenda is addressed in turn. Typically, each decision arising from an agenda item follows through a simple structure:
*''Discussion of the item'': The item is discussed with the goal of identifying opinions and information on the topic at hand. The general direction of the group and potential proposals for action are often identified during the discussion.
*''Formation of a proposal'': Based on the discussion a formal decision proposal on the issue is presented to the group.
*''Call for consensus'': The facilitator of the decision-making body calls for consensus on the proposal. Each member of the group usually must actively state whether they agree or consent, stand aside, or object, often by using a hand gesture or raising a colored card, to avoid the group [[Warnock's dilemma|interpreting silence or inaction as agreement]].  The number of objections is counted to determine if this step's consent threshold is satisfied.  If it is, dissenters are asked to share their concerns with proceeding with the agreement, so that any potential harms can be addressed/minimized. This can happen even if the consent threshold is unanimity, especially if many voters stand aside.
*''Identification and addressing of concerns'': If consensus is not achieved, each dissenter presents his or her concerns on the proposal, potentially starting another round of discussion to address or clarify the concern.
*''Modification of the proposal'': The proposal is amended, re-phrased or [[Rider (legislation)|ridered]] in an attempt to address the concerns of the decision-makers. The process then returns to the call for consensus and the cycle is repeated until a satisfactory decision passes the consent threshold for the group.