Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Approval of the Standard Bylaws Amendments to the RSSAC and SSAC composition

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Approval of the Standard Bylaws Amendments to the RSSAC and SSAC composition


Resolution of the ICANN Board
Meeting Date: 
Sun, 8 Sep 2019
Resolution Number: 
2019.09.08.04
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, Article 12, Section 12.2(b) of the Bylaws governs the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC), and Article 12, Section 12.2(c) governs the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC).

Whereas, under the current Bylaws Article 12, Section 12.2(b) (ii), the SSAC is not permitted to limit the number of terms the SSAC chair may serve, and the SSAC proposes amendments to that Article to remove language referring to the chair's term, which will give the SSAC the ability to impose term limits if it so chooses.

Whereas, under the current Bylaws Article 12, Section 12.2(c)(ii), the RSSAC is to be led by two co-chairs, and the RSSAC proposed amendments to Article 12 that would require only a singular chair.

Whereas both the SSAC and RSSAC were motivated to request these amendments as part of the implementation of the recommendations arising out of their most recent organizational reviews.

Whereas, on 3 May 2019, pursuant to the Standard Bylaws amendment process at Section 25.1(b) of the ICANN Bylaws, the ICANN Board approved the posting of these proposed Bylaws amendments for public comment.

Whereas, the amendments were posted for public comment from 10 June 2019 – 9 August 2019. Two comments were received, and both were supportive of the changes.

Whereas, the Organizational Effectiveness Committee of the Board recommends the approval of the Bylaws changes related to the SSAC and RSSAC leadership, as posted for public comment.

Resolved (2019.09.08.04), pursuant to Section 25.1 of the ICANN Bylaws, the Board approves the amendments to Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) and Section 12.2(c)(ii) as posted for public comment, and directs the ICANN President and CEO, or his designee, to continue with the Standard Bylaws amendment process for these sections.

Rationale for Resolution: 

The Board is taking this action today at the request of the SSAC and RSSAC and in support of the organizational reviews required under Section 4.4 of the ICANN Bylaws. The Final Report of the Independent Review of SSAC by Analysis Group recommended that term limits be applicable for the leadership of the SSAC, which the Bylaws do not allow at this time. Flexibility in the structure of the RSSAC leadership is proposed as an implementation item in direct response to a recommendation arising out of the organizational review of the RSSAC regarding issues of succession.

These changes were jointly posted for public comment, with two comments received. The ICANN Business Constituency and the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group were each in support of the proposed Bylaws changes. These comments were reflected in a staff report.

Today's action does not pose any identified fiscal impact, nor does it impact the security, stability or resiliency of the Internet's DNS. This action serves ICANN's mission in ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems through supporting the continued evolution of the governance of these two key advisory committees. In addition, this action supports the accountability mandates of organizational review process, as each of the requested changes arise out of that process. It is in the public interest as following the Bylaws-mandated amendment process supports ICANN's multistakeholder community and allows ICANN to remain accountable to its Bylaws-mandated mechanisms.

This is an Organizational Administrative Function for which public comment was received.