Associated with each topic will be at least one review group. For many topics, of course, there will be one obvious review group responsible for overseeing the topic. Less frequently there will be topics that we will want edited by more than one group; e.g., God or deity will probably need input both from Religion as well as Philosophy. As a rule of thumb: if within a given discipline there are experts who study the topic in considerable depth, the corresponding review group ought to have a say about the article. Generally, editors are expected to be alert to the fact that other review groups might want to have a say about certain topics that they create. In obvious cases, he or she can simply select any other relevant group into the other areas part of the article information form. In less obvious cases, he or she may wish to consult with the other area editors and the editor-in-chief.
There will be one primary editorial group associated with every topic in any case. In case of dispute or uncertainty, the decision as to which group this will be will be left up to the editor-in-chief. The editor of the primary area will have final responsibility for determining who is assigned the topic. This editor will also have the responsibility for deciding what other areas govern the topic and for determining precisely what issues need to be decided by the other areas. That is, the editor of the lead area may give specific instructions to the other areas that are reviewing the topic about what aspects or parts of a given article are to be reviewed. It is hoped that such decisions can be made in consultation with other interested parties, as appropriate. It is hoped that "turf wars" will be kept to an absolute minimum. In all of these matters, any disputes can be resolved with the assistance of the editor-in-chief.
If an article must be submitted to more than one review group, it must be approved by all of the review groups to which it has been submitted, before it can be sent to the copyeditors. The system automatically forwards an article that has completed open review by one group on to the next group.