Wikipedia:Bureaucrats

"WP:BUR" redirects here. For the "Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy" policy, see WP:NOTBUR.

Bureaucrats are Wikipedia users with the technical ability to:

• add the administrator, bureaucrat, account creator, reviewer, or bot user group to an account
• remove the administrator, account creator, IP block exemption, reviewer, or bot user group from an account.

They are bound by policy and consensus only to grant administrator or bureaucrat access when doing so reflects the wishes of the community, usually after a successful request at Wikipedia:Requests for adminship. In the same fashion, they are expected to exercise judgement in changing usernames (observing relevant local and global policies), and in granting or removing bot flags with the advice of the Bot Approvals Group. They are expected to be capable judges of consensus, and are expected to explain the reasoning for their actions on request and in a civil manner. Actions by bureaucrats are also bound by the policy on use of administrative rights.

Bureaucrats have been authorized by the community to remove administrator permissions in certain situations outlined below. Bureaucrats do not have the technical ability to remove bureaucrat rights from users or to grant or remove certain levels of access such as oversight or checkuser rights. These actions are performed by stewards, a multilingual group of individuals who serve all Wikimedia projects and are elected and reconfirmed annually by their users. Changes in user rights by stewards are recorded at meta:Special:Log/rights; for more information see m:Requests for permissions.

Users are granted bureaucrat status by community consensus. The process is similar to the process of granting administrator status, but the expectations for potential bureaucrats are higher and community consensus must be clearer. See Wikipedia:Requests for bureaucratship.

On the English Wikipedia, there are currently 22 bureaucrats.

Current bureaucrats

See also: Special:ListUsers/bureaucrat

Former bureaucrats

• X! (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 1 June 2016
• Bcorr (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Brion VIBBER (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Cimon Avaro (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Cprompt (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Ilyanep (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Infrogmation (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Jwrosenzweig (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Raul654 (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Secretlondon (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed per activity requirements 31 December 2015
• Stan Shebs (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 19 August 2015
• Anonymous Dissident (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 14 December 2014
• Writ Keeper (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 10 September 2014
• Taxman (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 7 April 2014
• Rdsmith4 (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 2 December 2013
• The Rambling Man (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 2 September 2013
• WilliamH (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 1 September 2013
• Linuxbeak (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 1 April 2013
• Hersfold (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 12 March 2013
• Redux (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 9 August 2011
• TUF-KAT (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed for inactivity 9 August 2011
• Tim Starling (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 2 March 2011
• Rlevse (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 31 October 2010
• Angela (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 29 July 2010
• Nichalp (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed by motion 13 June 2009
• Danny (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 21 March 2007
• Dannyisme~enwiki (talk · contribs · rights · renames), 21 March 2007
• Essjay (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 4 March 2007
• Francs2000 (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 29 March 2006
• Optim (talk · contribs · rights · renames), removed 9 February 2006 (resigned 6 March 2004)
• Ed Poor (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 12 September 2005
• Eloquence (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 26 May 2005
• Ugen64 (talk · contribs · rights · renames), resigned 12 October 2004

Procedures

These are instructions and procedures concerning bureaucratic actions and processes.

Permissions

Note: Similar to non-administrators closing deletion discussions, Requests for adminship can be closed by non-bureaucrats in certain cases; for example if the user has withdrawn the request or the outcome is very unlikely to be positive (see WP:NOTNOW). Non-bureaucrats should be very careful in the latter case and only close RfAs when they are not in doubt. In such cases the requesting user should always be asked to consider withdrawal first.

Promotions and RfX closures

• Wait at least seven days after the listing was made on Wikipedia:Requests for adminship or Wikipedia talk:Bot Approvals Group
• Check the history for the transcluded page to be reasonably sure that the comments are genuine
• Determine whether there is a consensus that the person should be promoted using the traditional rules of thumb and your best judgement
• Edit the nomination. Add the relevant header and footer to the discussion page, remembering to substitute:

Discussion	Header	Footer
Successful RfA	{{subst:rfap}}	{{subst:rfab}}
Unsuccessful RfA	{{subst:rfaf}}	{{subst:rfab}}
Successful RfB	{{subst:rfbp}}	{{subst:rfbb}}
Unsuccessful RfB	{{subst:rfbf}}	{{subst:rfbb}}
On hold RfA	{{subst:rfah}}	{{subst:rfab}}
On hold RfB	{{subst:rfbh}}	{{subst:rfbb}}
Successful BAG	{{subst:rfbagp}}	{{subst:rfbagb}}
Unsuccessful BAG	{{subst:rfbagf}}	{{subst:rfbagb}}

For requests for adminship or bureaucratship

• Remove the "Voice your opinion" and talk page link (example)
• Replace the {{rfatally}} template with {{subst:finaltally}}, fill in the appropriate fields, make sure the final tally is accurate, and include any additional comments
• If there is a consensus, promote to admin or bureaucrat using Special:Userrights. If present, remove userrights made redundant by the sysop flag. Please reference the RfA (or RfB) when making the promotion
• Remove the request from requests for adminship
  • For successful nominations, add a summary of the outcome to successful requests for adminship or successful bureaucratship candidacies and update the relevant counts
  • For unsuccessful nominations, add the summary to Wikipedia:Unsuccessful adminship candidacies (Chronological) and Wikipedia:Unsuccessful adminship candidacies (Alphabetical), or Wikipedia:Unsuccessful bureaucratship candidacies and update the relevant counts

For requests for membership in the Bot Approvals Group

• Add the user to Wikipedia:Bot Approvals Group
• Add a summary of the outcome to successful or unsuccessful Bot Approvals Group candidacies

• Inform the user of the result, whether it is successful or unsuccessful (perhaps using one of the optional templates)

Removal of permissions

Bureaucrats may remove the "administrator" user right from an account in some situations:

• If self-requested by the administrator
• By official request of the Arbitration Committee
• If the administrator is deemed inactive per Wikipedia:Administrators#Procedural removal for inactive administrators
• If the account belongs to an editor who has been verified as deceased (in which case, all user rights should be removed). See also WP:DWG.

Bureaucrats should include a permanent link to the request or relevant policy when removing permissions. If necessary, the affected user should be immediately notified and given a reason for the removal along with advice on seeking the reinstatement of the permissions.

The use of these procedures is not intended to constrain the authority of the Wikimedia Stewards to undertake emergency removal of permissions on their own discretion, or removal following a request from the Arbitration Committee, pursuant to the relevant policies governing Steward actions.

Deceased Wikipedians

If an editor is verified as having died, all permissions on the account should be removed. Unless the account is suspected of being compromised, it should not be blocked. For Checkuser, Oversight and Bureaucrat rights, which cannot be removed locally, a request to remove those should be posted on m:Steward requests/Permissions#Removal of access. See also WP:DWG.

Inactive bureaucrat accounts

Bureaucrat accounts which have been completely inactive for at least one calendar year (without any edits or other logged actions) may have their bureaucrat permissions removed. The bureaucrat must be contacted on their user talk page and via email one month before the removal of permissions and again several days before the request is made. Should the bureaucrat remain inactive, another bureaucrat may request the procedural removal of permissions. This is not to be considered a reflection on the user's use of, or rights to, the tools. If an inactive bureaucrat returns to Wikipedia, they may request restoration of the permissions at the bureaucrats' noticeboard provided they have not been inactive for three consecutive years.

Bureaucrat activity requirements

Bureaucrats are expected to exercise the duties granted by their role while remaining cognizant of relevant community standards concerning their tasks. In addition to the "Inactive bureaucrat accounts" requirements, if a bureaucrat does not participate in bureaucrat activity for over three years, their bureaucrat permissions may be removed. The user must be notified on their talk page and by email one month before the removal, and again a few days prior to the removal. If the user does not return to bureaucrat activity, another bureaucrat may request the removal of permissions at meta:Steward requests/Permissions. Permissions removed for not meeting bureaucrat activity requirements may be re-obtained through a new request for bureaucratship.

Restoration of permissions

In the case that a former administrator or bureaucrat requests their permissions be restored via the bureaucrats' noticeboard:

1. Check that the user in question is indeed a former administrator or bureaucrat (in particular, a bureaucrat restoring permissions should satisfy themselves that the account has not been compromised since the permissions were relinquished).
2. Check their talk page history and any pertinent discussions or noticeboards for indications that they may have resigned (or become inactive) for the purpose, or with the effect, of evading scrutiny of their actions that could have led to sanctions.
3. To allow time for requests to be checked thoroughly, it is required that a minimum of 24 hours elapse for multiple bureaucrats and other editors to comment on the request before restoring permissions. This time may be lengthened at a bureaucrat's discretion, if new information arises.
4. If a former administrator ("lengthy inactivity") or bureaucrat ("inactive bureaucrat accounts") has been inactive (defined by zero edits or logged actions) for a period of three years or longer after the removal of permissions (or for three years from the last edit or log action in the case of permissions removed due to inactivity), they must be successful in a new request for adminship or bureaucratship to have the permission(s) restored.
5. If the permission is restored, list the user at Wikipedia:List of resysopped users.

Bot flags

1. Bot flags may be granted or removed in accordance with the bot policy, often on the advice of the Bot Approvals Group.
2. (On process page) Ensure that the request is compliant with relevant policies and guidelines and that a Bot Approvals Group member asked for the bot to be flagged.

   Bot flags may also be granted or removed in other situations (such as requests to the bureaucrats' noticeboard or other noticeboard discussions).

3. Use Special:UserRights to set or remove the flag, with a link to the approved BRFA or permanent link to the relevant discussion as the rationale.

Renames

Users may request renaming via the username change process.

As of April 2015 username changes must be completed globally by a user with centralauth-rename rights on meta (Global renamers and Stewards).

Process

1. Ensure the request is compliant with the username policy, changing usernames guidelines, and the global rename policy.
2. Verify the requested name is an eligible target; in particular it is not too similar to another active global username.
3. Enter the old and new name at meta:Special:GlobalRenameUser, using a permanent link to the request in the log.
4. (On process page) Append the {{done}} or {{not done}} template to the request.

Usurpations

When usurping a target name (User:Target) with a current name (User:Current):

1. Confirm that User:Target is eligible to be usurped and has not objected to the usurpation.
2. Using meta:Special:GlobalRenameUser, rename User:Target to User:Target (usurped) with the "Suppress creation of redirects" option checked; this vacates the target name and userspace.
3. Using meta:Special:GlobalRenameUser rename User:Current to User:Target.
4. (On process page) Append the {{done}} or {{not done}} template to the request and update the {{status}} accordingly.

Special conditions

1. After renaming an administrator, a redirect should be created from Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/NEWNAME to their successful RFA with [[Category:Redirects to requests for adminship|NEWNAME]] included.
2. For requests from OTRS, contact a bureaucrat who is also an OTRS volunteer (see above) who can check the ticket. For OTRS agents, you can check if the bureaucrat has access to the queue the ticket is in, by going to otrswiki:List of accounts.

Mailing list

A Bureaucrat mailing list (wikien-bureaucrats) was established in March 2009. It is intended as a convenient way to notify bureaucrats about urgent matters or, on rare occasions, to discuss private matters. Any issue that is neither urgent nor necessarily private should instead be handled at the appropriate on-wiki venue, for instance at the bureaucrats' noticeboard.

Access to the list is strictly limited to current bureaucrats. However, not all bureaucrats are subscribed to the list. Subscription status is indicated above. Currently, the list administrators are Dweller and EVula.

Subject matter

Please use the list with care: most issues can and should be discussed on-wiki, either at Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard, via a Bureaucrat's talk page, or in the appropriate on-wiki forum. Please do not email regarding matters that are neither urgent nor concern private information. If an email sent to the list is urgent but does not involve private information, a copy of the text of the email should be posted to the bureaucrats' noticeboard. Please do not contact the list with concerns about edit-warring, conflict, or need for specialist tools, such as CheckUser or Oversight.

To contact the bureaucrat mailing list in appropriate circumstances, please use Special:Emailuser/Bureaucrats, or e-mail wikien-bureaucratslists.wikimedia.org. Please include links to any relevant on-wiki discussion. If you have a private request, please explain why it must remain private. If you would prefer to contact an individual bureaucrat directly, you do not have to contact the mailing list.

See also

• Special:Log/rights: log of user rights changes;
• Special:Log/renameuser: log of local username changes (global username changes between 9 July 2014 and 19 March 2015 affecting local accounts were not logged locally);
• m:Special:log/gblrename: log of global username changes (became available 9 July 2014);
• Wikipedia:Bureaucrat log: for Bureaucrat activity (user rights adjustments) before 24 December 2004;
• Wikipedia:List of users resysopped by a bureaucrat: listing of users resysopped by Bureaucrats;
• Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard: discussion of Bureaucrat-related matters (please note that questions relating to decisions by particular bureaucrats should be directed to their talkpage in the first instance);
• Wikipedia:User access levels: general information on the English Wikipedia's user rights system;
• User:NoSeptember/crat stats: Bureaucrat activity statistics (historical);
• m:Stewards: information on users who can grant and remove all user flags
• Wikipedia:Bureaucrats/Message list: for use with Special:Massmessage