There is a heated debate underway on the legitimacy of global activists, a war of words (and sometimes stones and teargas) that is rarely examined from top to bottom. Canadian commentator Alison Van Rooy scrutinizes the new legitimacy rules, arguing that they have real impact on how our world is governed. In dissecting the 'rules' about representation ('who elected you?'), rights, experience, expertise, moral authority, and other legitimation measures, she debates the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the shape of civic protest. Musing on these changes in global social movements, she points to her own proposals for global supplementary democracy-another way to improve the governance of our globe.