Q:What is the relationship between admins and sheriffs?
A:Sheriffs are a separate class of editors, with far less power than admins, but some authorities that admins do not possess. The relationship is akin to that between judges and police officers. Only judges (admins) can interpret rules and impose long-term solutions or sanctions. Police officers (sheriffs) only keep the peace: they enforce rules as given in a rather literal way. In specific contexts, sheriffs have more authority than admins (in the same way that a police officer could issue a judge a speeding ticket and the judge would be obliged to pay), but sheriffs need to defer to admins in matters that call for interpretation of policy.
Q:Does this involve some new bureaucracy?
A:In its simplest form, no. The only requirements are some system for the community to appoint a sheriff to a page and some forum for discussion of the sheriff's actions, which can easily be handled in the context of the Administrator's noticeboard. More complex systems have been suggested over concerns about potential abuses, but since sheriffs are largely controlled by the restrictions placed on the office, such complexities are optional.
Q:What special powers does a sheriff have?
A:Sheriffs have liberal powers to redact and refactor talk page content, and can impose non-cumulative 24 hour article bans or blocks on editors. Such actions are procedural rather than administrative (i.e., they do not count towards other current or future administrative actions), but they are authoritative and can be used to whatever extent the sheriff can justify as necessary.
Q:What restrictions do sheriffs have?
A:Sheriffs can only take action with respect to potentially disruptive behavior, must always apply their actions impartially, and can never take actions which influence or inhibit content development. Sheriffs who (by action or inaction) violate these restrictions can be replaced on the page or be removed as sheriffs entirely.
