[gnso-ppsc-wg] Your feedback requested: Section 2.1.4.2 Election of WG Leaders

[Marika Konings <marika.konings@xxxxxxxxx>]

>From the GNSO Working Group Guidelines

2.1.4.2 Election of the WG Leaders

Unless a Chair has already been named by the Chartering Organization, normally 
a Chair will be selected at the first meeting of the WG. Until that time, the 
Chartering Organization’s liaison may fulfill the role of interim Chair. A 
Working Group can elect to have co-chairs, vice-chairs or request ICANN Staff 
to perform the role of Chair. Once selected, a Working Group Chair will need to 
be confirmed by the Chartering Organization (CO). The newly elected Chair will 
act on a provisional basis until the Chartering Organization has confirmed the 
appointment. If there are any objections to the selected Chair, the CO will 
conduct a vote to establish whether there is majority support for the selected 
Chair. If there is no majority support, the Working Group will be requested to 
reconsider their choice for Chair and return to the CO with a new proposal.

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Comments

GD: Section 2.1.4.2 outlines the selection of working group leadership 
positions.  It notes that the working group can elect to have ICANN Staff serve 
in the role of working group Chair, but is this in accordance with ICANN 
by-laws?  We ask that the PPSC WG-WT address this question with ICANN’s General 
Counsel.

Further in this section, the document calls for the proposed working group 
Chair to be confirmed by the GNSO Council.  Under what conditions would (or 
should) the Council reject the proposed Chair? Does the PPSC WG-WT envision a 
process by which the membership of the working group (including the rejected 
Chair) can appeal this decision?

Finally, this area may be an appropriate place to include some provisions for 
the GNSO Council to remove a working group Chair, Vice-Chair, Liaison, or other 
defined leadership position.  These should include a description of general 
circumstances that would warrant Council intervention and removal.

INTA: This subsection permits flexibility in determining how the WG leaders 
will be elected or appointed, allowing for different Chartering Organizations 
(COs) to tailor the leadership according to the needs of the WG. However, the 
Committee suggests circulating information regarding the nominated Chairs prior 
to the meeting.

MO: Working Group members are often meeting for the first time at the initial 
meeting which puts many at a disadvantage when it comes to running for, or 
voting for, Chair.
Suggested Language
Replace this language in section 2.1.4.2:
“unless a Chair has already been named by the Chartering Organization, normally 
a Chair will be selected at the first meeting of the WG.”
with:
“unless a Chair has already been named by the Chartering Organization, normally 
a Chair may be selected at the first meeting of the WG.  Alternatively, the WG 
can designate an Interim Chair at the initial meeting to serve until a Chair is 
elected.  However, the WG must select a Chair within 3 weeks of the initial 
meeting.”