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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Councilors,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Please find below the relevant text from the ICANN Bylaws that I hope is helpful as a reference source for some of the questions that were raised during your Wednesday session concerning a possible Rejection
Action Petition scenario for the Empowered Community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">On the specific requirement that a Rejection Action Petition
<u>must</u> (if it relates to an ICANN Budget) include rationale linking back to a public comment on the draft Budget, see Annex D, Section 2.2(c)(i)(A) (emphasis added):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“Where the Rejection Action Petition Notice relates to an ICANN Budget, an IANA Budget, an Operating Plan or a Strategic Plan, the Rejection Action Petition Notice shall not be
valid and shall not be accepted by the EC Administration unless the rationale set forth in the Rejection Action Petition Notice
<b>is based on one or more significant issues that were specifically raised in the applicable public comment period(s) relating to perceived inconsistencies with the Mission, purpose and role set forth in ICANN's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the global
public interest, the needs of ICANN's stakeholders, financial stability, or other matter of concern to the community</b> … “<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">(Note: A different but equally specific requirement applies to Rejection Action Petitions concerning a Standard Bylaw Amendment - see Annex D, Section 2.2(c)(i)(B).)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">On indemnification, see Section 20.1 (<a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article20">https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article20</a>) (emphasis added):
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt">“ICANN shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the (California Corporations Code), indemnify each of its agents against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts
<b>actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that any such person is or was an agent of ICANN, provided that the indemnified person's acts were done in good faith and in a manner that the indemnified person
reasonably believed to be in ICANN's best interests and not criminal</b>. For purposes of this <u>Article 20</u>, an "agent" of ICANN includes any person who is or was a Director, Officer, employee,
<b>or any other agent of ICANN (including a member of the EC, the EC Administration, any Supporting Organization,
</b>any Advisory Committee, the Nominating Committee, any other ICANN committee, or the Technical Liaison Group)
<b>acting within the scope of his or her responsibility</b> … The Board may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of ICANN against any liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity
… “<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Link to all the timelines and procedural steps applicable to Empowered Community processes, including the filing and disposition of Rejection Action Petitions:
<a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#annexD">https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#annexD</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Link to the Bylaws describing the Empowered Community and its powers:
<a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article6">https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#article6</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Link to the GNSO-specific procedures and templates developed by the GNSO Bylaws Drafting Team headed by Heather:
<a href="https://community.icann.org/display/GBIDT/Templates+and+Guidelines+Depository">
https://community.icann.org/display/GBIDT/Templates+and+Guidelines+Depository</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thanks and cheers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Mary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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