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+# etcd Governance
+
+## Principles
+
+The etcd community adheres to the following principles:
+
+- Open: etcd is open source.
+- Welcoming and respectful: See [Code of Conduct](code-of-conduct.md).
+- Transparent and accessible: Changes to the etcd code repository and CNCF related
+activities (e.g. level, involvement, etc) are done in public.
+- Merit: Ideas and contributions are accepted according to their technical merit for
+the betterment of the project. For specific guidance on practical contribution steps
+please see [CONTRIBUTING](./CONTRIBUTING.md) guide.
+
+## Maintainers
+
+Maintainers are first and foremost contributors that have shown they are committed to
+the long term success of a project. Maintainership is about building trust with the
+current maintainers of the project and being a person that they can depend on to make
+decisions in the best interest of the project in a consistent manner. The current
+maintainers are listed in the [MAINTAINERS](./MAINTAINERS) file. The maintainers role
+can be a top-level or restricted to certain package/feature depending upon their
+commitment in fulfilling the expected responsibilities as explained below.
+
+### Top-level maintainer
+
+- Running the etcd release processes
+- Ownership of test and debug infrastructure
+- Triage GitHub issues to keep the issue count low (goal: under 100)
+- Regularly review GitHub pull requests across all pkgs
+- Providing cross pkg design review
+- Monitor email aliases
+- Participate when called upon in the [security disclosure and release process](security/README.md)
+- General project maintenance
+
+### Package/feature maintainer
+
+- Ownership of test and debug failures in a pkg/feature
+- Resolution of bugs triaged to a package/feature
+- Regularly review pull requests to the pkg subsystem
+
+Contributors who are interested in becoming a maintainer, if performing these
+responsibilities, should discuss their interest with the existing maintainers. New
+maintainers must be nominated by an existing maintainer and must be elected by a
+supermajority of  maintainers. Likewise, maintainers can be removed by a supermajority
+of the maintainers and moved to emeritus status.
+
+Life priorities, interests, and passions can change. If a maintainer needs to step
+down, inform other maintainers about this intention, and if possible, help find someone
+to pick up the related work. At the very least, ensure the related work can be continued.
+Afterward, create a pull request to remove yourself from the [MAINTAINERS](./MAINTAINERS)
+file.
+
+## Approvers
+
+Approvers are contributors with merge rights. They are active reviewers and have
+created significant numbers of PRs in the various code areas to add new features,
+fix bugs and improve code. New approvers must be nominated by an existing maintainer
+and must be elected by a supermajority of maintainers. Likewise, approvers can be
+removed by a supermajority of the maintainers or can resign by notifying the
+maintainers.
+
+## Reviewers
+
+Reviewers are contributors who have demonstrated greater skill in reviewing the code
+contribution from other contributors. Their LGTM counts towards merging a code change
+into the project. New reviewers must be nominated by an existing maintainer and must
+be elected by a supermajority of maintainers. Likewise, reviewers can be removed by a
+supermajority of the  maintainers or can resign by notifying the maintainers.
+
+## Decision making process
+
+Decisions are built on consensus between maintainers publicly. Proposals and ideas
+can either be submitted for agreement via a GitHub issue or PR, or by sending an email
+to `etcd-maintainers@googlegroups.com`.
+
+## Conflict resolution
+
+In general, we prefer that technical issues and maintainer membership are amicably
+worked out between the persons involved. However, any technical dispute that has
+reached an impasse with a subset of the community, any contributor may open a GitHub
+issue or PR or send an email to `etcd-maintainers@googlegroups.com`. If the
+maintainers themselves cannot decide an issue, the issue will be resolved by a
+supermajority of the  maintainers.
+
+## Changes in Governance
+
+Changes in project governance could be initiated by opening a GitHub PR.
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS_RULES.md b/MAINTAINERS_RULES.md
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-
-This document describes basic expectations for maintainers. To become a maintainer, start taking on these responsibilities. Consistent contributors then discuss with existing maintainers to become the official [MAINTAINERS](./MAINTAINERS).
-
-### Top-level maintainer
-
-- Running the etcd release processes
-- Ownership of test and debug infrastructure
-- Resolve or redirect issues to keep the issue count low (goal: under 100)
-- Regularly review pull requests across all pkgs
-- Providing cross pkg design review
-
-### Package/feature maintainer
-
-- Ownership of test and debug failures in a pkg/feature
-- Resolution of bugs triaged to a package/feature
-- Regularly review pull requests to the pkg subsystem