Registrar Constituency Position on Proposed Bylaw Revision
Registrar Constituency Position on Proposed ICANN Bylaw Revision Concerning
GNSO Council Member Term Limits
November 3, 2008
BACKGROUND
In October 2008, the members of the Registrar Constituency ("RC") were asked to
provide feedback regarding a proposed modification of the ICANN bylaws that
would implement term limits for GNSO Council members. This Position Paper
captures the overall sentiment expressed by the RC members who provided
feedback about this matter and seems to reflect the general sense of the RC.
However, due to time constraints, no formal vote regarding this Position Paper
was taken.
RC POSITION
The RC supports the proposed modification of the ICANN bylaws implementing term
limits for GNSO Council members.
The RC agrees that it is in the best interests of the ICANN community to have
term limits for GNSO Council members, and the RC agrees that the exceptions
provided for in the revision are appropriate and sufficient. Term limits will
enhance inclusiveness and enable more people to become involved in Council
activities. The GNSO Council will benefit from the fresh ideas and perspectives
that a regular introduction of new Council members brings. It is significant
that both the Board Governance Committee's report of February 3, 2008 on GNSO
Improvements and the majority of the GNSO Councilors agreed on this need for
term limits. The proposed term limit modification also mirrors the spirit of
the RC's own bylaws, which prevent an RC member from serving more than two
consecutive terms as a GNSO Council representative.
The RC notes that some questions have been raised as to whether the pending
GNSO restructuring presents issues for the implementation of term limits that
should be considered before term limits are adopted. The RC has considered this
carefully and believes that no such issues exist. The questions being raised
appear to be attempts to delay the implementation of term limits by those who
do not support them. The RC supports the proposed bylaw modification as written
and encourages its immediate implementation. The RC looks forward to the
diversity that term limits will bring to the GNSO Council and its activities.
CONCLUSION
The opinions expressed by the RC in this Position Paper should not be
interpreted to reflect the individual opinion of any particular RC member.
Attachment:
RC Position re GNSO Term Limit Bylaw Revision v1-2.pdf |