Intersect MBO was established to support the advancement of Cardano through its members. An essential part of this mission involves several elected committees that provide specialized guidance and advice to governance decision-makers, including the constitutional committee (which ensures governance actions comply with the constitution), delegated representatives (DReps, who act on behalf of ada holders), and stake pool operators (SPOs, who maintain blockchain integrity).

Intersect actively supports DReps and SPOs by providing spaces to collaborate (such as the hard fork working group) and publishing recommendations or guidance, including informational materials, workshops, ongoing education, and direct assistance from specialist committees.

Committee structure and elections

Intersect members play a crucial role in the committee election process. They elect committees through elections facilitated by Intersect twice a year. Any community member or organization interested in participating can join Intersect. Committee elections follow a clear and straightforward process: each member receives one vote, irrespective of their ada holdings. Currently, Intersect has seven standing committees and a steering committee. The steering committee comprises the chairs from each standing committee and functional leaders within Intersect.

Although DReps and SPOs must vote on governance actions, expecting them to grasp the details and implications of every action fully isn't feasible. This is where Intersect committees play a crucial role. They bridge this knowledge gap by offering specialized guidance, ensuring that DReps and SPOs are supported and confident in their decision-making.

Role of committees

Intersect committees specialize in their respective areas to offer precise and valuable advice. Their role includes assisting proposers in developing governance actions, facilitating community discussions on social media platforms, and answering inquiries transparently. The goal is to ensure clear understanding and broad community support before enacting governance actions.

Intersect steering committee

The Intersect steering committee comprises the chairs of the seven standing committees, the functional administration leads, and elected members. Its purpose is to make collective decisions and think strategically to support Intersect's development on behalf of the Cardano community. 

Budget committee

The Cardano constitution requires an annual budgeting process. The budget committee convenes key stakeholders from the Cardano ecosystem to leverage their insights and experiences to provide effective guidance, oversight, and support.

Civics committee

The civics committee advises on community recommendations for improving Cardano governance. It oversees on-chain voting tools, ensuring they are consistently operational, and regularly updates voting guidelines, templates, and standards.

Growth and marketing committee

The growth and marketing committee, which brings together Cardano blockchain pioneers and seasoned marketing professionals, recommends innovative strategies designed to enhance decentralization and accelerate the adoption of the Cardano ecosystem.

Membership and community committee

This committee is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant Cardano community. It achieves this by effectively managing Intersect's membership experience, providing robust community support and educational resources, and hosting engaging community events.

Open source committee

Intersect’s open source committee promotes Cardano's ongoing development and evolution as a decentralized, community-driven open source initiative. It provides essential tools, policies, and guidelines to support Cardano’s growth, adaptability, and accessibility through inclusive decision-making.

Product committee

Serving as the steward of the Cardano roadmap, the product committee coordinates innovative suggestions and collaborates closely with the community to shape a comprehensive vision for Cardano’s future development.

Technical steering committee

DReps frequently vote on critical protocol parameters and technical changes to the Cardano codebase. The technical steering committee offers in-depth technical analysis and guidance on development projects, protocol parameters (through its subcommittee and working groups), and network-related conditions.

Why committees matter now more than ever

With the increasing responsibilities of DReps, committees have become vital expert bodies providing specialized analysis and strategic advice, ensuring informed and impactful governance decisions. Committees function like think tanks, shaping the direction of Cardano by generating strategies, roadmaps, and actionable insights for DReps to consider.

Intersect members directly influence the quality of expertise that informs critical decisions by participating in committee elections. Active engagement in these elections reinforces Cardano’s decentralized vision, ensuring the ecosystem remains transparent, innovative, and aligned with community values.