Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Revisions to the Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy

Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.

Revisions to the Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy


Resolution of the ICANN Board
Meeting Date: 
Wed, 18 Jul 2018
Resolution Number: 
2018.07.18.02
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, on 27 May 2016, the Board approved extensively revised Bylaws, which became effective on 1 October 2016.

Whereas, the Board Governance Committee has reviewed suggested changes to the Board of Directors' Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Board Conflicts of Interest Policy to conform them to the 1 October 2016 Bylaws and recommends that the Board approve the revised documents.

Resolved (2018.07.18.02), the Board adopts the revised Board of Directors' Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Rationale for Resolution: 

Adopting the revised Board of Directors' Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy is consistent with ICANN's commitments to ensuring legitimacy and sustainability of the ICANN multistakeholder model by ensure that the Board members are operating at the highest ethical standards.

The Board Governance Committee (BGC) has recommended that the Board of Directors' Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy be revised to conform with the 1 October 2016 version of the Bylaws and the Board agrees. Because these revisions are non-material, a public comment process is not required.

This decision is squarely within the public interest and consistent with ICANN's mission as it is expected to positively impact the ICANN community through the incorporation of recently adopted Bylaws into the Board's governance documents to ensure that those Bylaws revisions are consistently addressed.

The adoption of the revised Board of Directors' Code of Conduct, the Board Governance Guidelines, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy is not expected to have a fiscal impact on ICANN organization.

This decision should not have any negative impact on the security, stability or resiliency of the domain name system.

This is an Organizational Administrative Function not requiring public comment.