Public Comment
Revisions to the ICANN Bylaws re SSAC and RSSAC Leadership
Open Date
10 June 2019 23:59 UTC
Close Date
26 July 2019 23:59 UTC
Staff Report Due
9 August 2019 23:59 UTC
Brief Overview
Purpose: Both the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) are undergoing Organizational Reviews pursuant to ICANN's Bylaws. In each of those reviews, there is an identified need to update the leadership references contained within ICANN's Bylaws. As a result, both the SSAC and RSSAC requested the Board to initiate the Bylaws amendment process. The RSSAC wishes to change its leadership structure, while the SSAC wishes to have the option to do the same should it so choose. Bylaws changes are required to effectuate each of these outcomes. On 3 May 2019, at Board Resolutions 2019.05.03.13 and 2019.05.03.15 – 2019.05.03.23, the Board directed the ICANN President and CEO, or his designee(s), to publish for public comment the proposed standard amendments to Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) (SSAC) and Article 12, Section 12.2(c) (RSSAC) of the ICANN Bylaws.
Current Status: Redline versions of the proposed amendments to Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) and Article 12, Section 12.2(c) of the ICANN Bylaws are now available for public comment.
Next Steps: Following the close of the public comment period and taking into account the public comments received, the Board will consider the proposed changes to Article 12, Sections 12.2(b)(ii) and 12.2(c) of the ICANN Bylaws for adoption.
Section I: Description and Explanation
On 3 May 2019, the Board adopted Resolutions 2019.05.03.13 and 2019.05.03.15 – 2019.05.03.23 directing the ICANN President and CEO, or his designee(s), to publish for public comment the proposed standard amendments to Article 12, the ICANN Bylaws. The proposed amendments relate to: 1) Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) to remove language referring to the SSAC Chair's term; and 2) Article 12, Section 12.2(c) to change the RSSAC leadership structure.
Section II: Background
Article 4, Section 4.4 of the ICANN Bylaws requires ICANN to conduct Organizational Reviews of its Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees (other than the Governmental Advisory Committee) and the Nominating Committee. Both the SSAC and RSSAC are in the process of their second round of an Organizational Review.
Drafts of the SSAC2 and RSSAC2 final reports were published for public comment and following a review of the public comments, Analysis Group and Interisle published the SSAC2 final report and RSSAC2 final report on 7 January 2019 and 10 July 2018, respectively. The SSAC2 final report included recommendations to place a limit on SSAC's leadership term; while the RSSAC2 report identified issues of succession, which recommended that the RSSAC proactively address these concerns by proposing clarifications to its leadership structure to consist of one RSSAC Chair and one RSSAC Vice Chair rather than two RSSAC Co-Chairs.
The Organizational Reviews for both the SSAC and RSSAC are ongoing. While the RSSAC has already decided to move from the two Co-chairs model to the Chair/vice chair model; the SSAC, on the other hand, wishes to make the necessary changes in the ICANN Bylaws now to enable them to impose term limits to its chair for the next leadership cycle, should it so choose. Therefore, the entities propose standard amendments to Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) and Article 12, Section 12.2(c) of the ICANN Bylaws.
Section III: Relevant Resources
The SSAC2 Final Report is available here.
The RSSAC2 Final Report is available here.
The proposed revisions to Article 12, Section 12.2(b)(ii) of the ICANN Bylaws are available here.
The proposed revisions to Article 12, Section 12.2(c) of the ICANN Bylaws are available here.
Comments Closed
Report of Public Comments