[CCWG-ACCT] Does the proposed change to the GAC Bylaw create a new "mandatory voting requirement" for the ICANN Board?

[Seun Ojedeji]

Interesting you say this now, even though it was raised sometime last month
without attention:

http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/accountability-cross-community/2015-November/008349.html

Maybe now that you've written a full page about it, will warrant attention.
Guess it's a saying of "the more you look at one thing, the less you see
other stuff around". The ccwg focused on consensus and I hope they will get
that for all I care. Good luck with trying to "eat the cake and have it" at
the same time, even though there was IMO no significant reason to want to
eat the cake in the first place (as it's half baked).

Regards
On Dec 16, 2015 9:10 AM, "Greg Shatan" <gregshatanipc at gmail.com> wrote:

> All,
>
> In reviewing the Third Draft Proposal, concerns have been raised within my
> constituency that the proposed Bylaw does more than replace an existing
> "majority" threshold with a new "2/3" threshold.  The concern is that the
> proposed Bylaw introduces a "mandatory vote" by the Board in order to
> reject GAC Advice where the Bylaws do not currently require a Board vote.
> Further, there appears to be a concern that, if the Board does not take a
> vote and affirmatively reject a piece of GAC advice, then that GAC advice
> becomes binding on ICANN.
>
> These concerns stem from a reading of the draft Bylaw (new language in
> red):
>
>
> The advice of the Governmental Advisory Committee on public policy matters
> shall be duly taken into account, both in the formulation and adoption of
> policies. In the event that the ICANN Board determines to take an action
> that is not consistent with the Governmental Advisory Committee advice, it
> shall so inform the Committee and state the reasons why it decided not to
> follow that advice. Any Governmental Advisory Committee advice approved
> by a full Governmental Advisory Committee consensus, understood to mean the
> practice of adopting decisions by general agreement in the absence of any
> formal objection, may only be rejected by a vote of two-thirds of the
> Board, and tThe Governmental Advisory Committee and the ICANN Board will
> then try, in good faith and in a timely and efficient manner, to find a
> mutually acceptable solution.
>
>
> ​The current language of the Bylaw makes no reference to voting, only to
> the far more ambiguous "determines to take an action."  As such, adding a
> reference to a vote can be seen to add a new element (aside from the
> introduction of a 2/3 threshold): the element of a bylaws-mandated vote.
> Similarly, the statement that GAC Advice can only be rejected by a vote of
> the Board can be read to state that if no such vote is taken (or if such
> vote is taken and fails) that the GAC Advice is then something ICANN is
> bound to follow.
>
> I don't think either of these things were intended by the CCWG.  Whether
> they are misreadings of our draft language or unintended consequences of
> the drafting, this concern is troubling.  If it is the intent of some of
> those drafting this language to force a vote where none is currently
> required, then that is even more troubling.
>
> I would appreciate some clarification on these matters that I can bring
> back to my group.
>
> I would also appreciate the CCWG considering a change in language to
> remove this ambiguity which is currently causing great consternation in my
> group.
>
> I suggest the language below.  This m
> ore closely track
> ​s​
> the language of the existing bylaw and avoid the use of the term "vote,"
> with its potential unintended consequences:
>
> The advice of the Governmental Advisory Committee on public policy matters
> shall be duly taken into account, both in the formulation and adoption of
> policies. In the event that the ICANN Board determines to take an action
> that is not consistent with the Governmental Advisory Committee advice, it
> shall so inform the Committee and state the reasons why it decided not to
> follow that advice.
> ​
> If the Board
> ​
> determines to take an action that is not consistent with
> Governmental Advisory Committee advice approved by a full Governmental
> Advisory Committee consensus, understood to mean the practice of adopting
> decisions by general agreement in the absence of any formal objection,
> ​
> ​such determination must be supported by
> two-thirds of the Board, and the Governmental Advisory Committee and
> the ICANN Board will then try, in good faith and in a timely and efficient
> manner, to find a mutually acceptable solution.
> ​
>
>
> I would appreciate your thoughts on this point and the revised language.
> Thank you.
>
> Greg
>
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>
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