Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Board Governance Committee Charter Revisions and the Inaugural Charters of the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee and the Board Technical Committee
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.
Board Governance Committee Charter Revisions and the Inaugural Charters of the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee and the Board Technical Committee
Whereas, in 2008, the Board delegated to the Board Governance Committee (BGC) the responsibility for considering Reconsideration Requests, a responsibility that was previously delegated to a stand-alone committee of the Board.
Whereas, the BGC recommended, and the Board agreed, that the BGC's performance would be enhanced through the development of a Board committee specifically charged with oversight of ICANN accountability mechanisms, as the Board deems appropriate, with the BGC focusing on core governance activities.
Whereas, pursuant to the process set forth in the Bylaws for a Fundamental Bylaws amendment, on 22 July 2017, the Bylaws amendment redesignating the Reconsideration responsibilities from the BGC to the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee (BAMC) came into effect.
Whereas, the Board previously specified that that the charter concerns raised during the public comments public comment process for the Fundamental Bylaws change be taken into account, as appropriate, by the BGC in developing the new BAMC charter and revising the BGC charter.
Whereas, the BGC has recommended that the Board approve the attached inaugural Charter for the BAMC [PDF, 330 KB], which aligns with the purposes of the BAMC and the amended Bylaws, and which incorporates suggestions received during the public comment period for the Fundamental Bylaws change, as appropriate.
Whereas, the BGC has recommended that the Board approve the attached revised BGC charter [PDF, 222 KB] in which the Purpose and Responsibilities sections have been amended to align with the Bylaws amendment and the BAMC charter, and which incorporates suggestions received during the public comment period for the Fundamental Bylaws change, as appropriate.
Whereas, the BGC has also recommended that Board approve revisions to the BGC charter as part of the process of standardizing certain provisions of Board Committee charters.
Whereas, the Board has further determined that a Board committee should be formed to help the ICANN Board with oversight of technical work necessary to meet ICANN's mission of ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems (the Board Technical Committee (BTC)).
Whereas, the BGC has recommended that the Board approve the inaugural charter of the Board Technical Committee.
Resolved (2017.09.23.12), the Board hereby adopts the Charter of the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee.
Resolved (2017.09.23.13), the Board hereby adopts the revised Charter of the Board Governance Committee.
Resolved (2017.09.23.14), the Board herby adopts the Charter of the Board Technical Committee.
The Board is addressing this matter to ensure committee charters are up-to-date and reflect the most current needs of the organization, in accordance with governance requirements and best practices.
Over the past several years, the Board Governance Committee's (BGC) work relating to Reconsideration Requests, which was delegated to the BGC by the Board, has increased exponentially, particularly with the New gTLD Program. As a result of the increased volume of Reconsideration Requests, the BGC was required to focus more of its time on Reconsideration Requests and less on its other governance duties. Given that the Bylaws in effect on 1 October 2016 expanded the scope of the Reconsideration process, as well as ICANN's other accountability mechanisms, it is anticipated that the volume and complexity of accountability mechanisms filed, including Reconsideration Requests, might increase and that the BGC's workload on Reconsideration Requests will not likely lessen.
As part of its responsibilities, the BGC is tasked with "periodically review[ing] the charters of the Board Committees, including its own charter and work with the members of the Board Committees to develop recommendations to the Board for any charter adjustments deemed advisable." (BGC Charter, I.A, at https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/charter-06-2012-02-25-en) In this role, the BGC recommended, and the Board agreed, that to enhance its own performance and focus on core governance activities, the Reconsideration responsibilities should be moved to a new committee dedicated to oversight of ICANN's accountability mechanisms as deemed appropriate by the Board.
On 3 February 2017, the ICANN Board directed the initiation of the Fundamental Bylaws amendment process to allow for the ICANN community to consider these changes alongside the Board.
Pursuant to the process set forth in the Bylaws for a Fundamental Bylaws amendment, on 22 July 2017, the Bylaws amendment redesignating the Reconsideration responsibilities from the BGC to the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee (BAMC) came into effect.
Accordingly, the BGC has recommended, and the Board agrees, that the Board adopt the inaugural charter of the BAMC to align with the purposes of the BAMC and the amended Bylaws.
The BGC further recommended, and the Board agrees, that the Board approve the revised BGC charter in which the Purpose and Responsibilities sections have been amended to align with the Bylaws amendment and the BAMC charter, and which incorporates the suggestions received during the public comment period for the Fundamental Bylaws change as appropriate. Additionally, the BGC has recommended, and the Board agrees, that Board approve revisions to the BGC charter as part of the process of standardizing certain provisions of Board Committee charters.
The Board previously specified that that the charter concerns raised during the public comments public comment process for the Fundamental Bylaws change be taken into account, as appropriate, by the BGC in developing the new BAMC charter and revising the BGC charter. (See Resolution 2017.05.18.06.) The Board notes that BAMC charter and revised BGC charter have incorporated the charter concerns received during the public comment period for the Fundamental Bylaws change as appropriate.
The Board has further determined that a Board committee should be formed to help the ICANN Board with oversight of technical work necessary to meet ICANN's mission of ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems (the Board Technical Committee (BTC). The BGC has recommended, and the Board agrees, that the Board adopt the inaugural charter of the BTC.
This action is in the public interest as it is important to ensure that the Board has the necessary Committees, properly tasked with responsibilities, to ensure oversight over the ICANN organization, as the Board deems appropriate. There will be no direct fiscal impact or adverse ramifications on ICANN's strategic and operating plans from the proposed changes to the charters.
There are no security, stability or resiliency issues relating to the DNS as the result of this action.