Re: Revised Question 2

[RJ Atkinson <rja@extremenetworks.com>]

On Wednesday, May 21, 2003, at 13:17 America/Montreal, Christian 
Huitema wrote:
> Let's point out that the only difference between A2 and G is that A2
> specifies that the CB procedure must "ensure that at least one-half of
> the confirming body's sitting members agree to each candidate's
> confirmation."

Alternative (G) requires that more than half must agree, whereas (A2)
says "at least one-half".

(Please see the phrase "appropriate majority" in that text.  "Majority"
means at least (more than half).  "Simple Majority" has a slightly
different definition than "Majority", of course.)

> It turns out that is NOT the modus operandi of the ISOC
> Board of trustees. Decisions in a face to face meeting of the Board of
> Trustees are according to the following rule:
>
> 1) A certain proportion of the trustees must be present (quorum), and,
> 2) A majority of those who are present must approve the decision.
>
> This is specified as a simple majority in section 10 of the by-laws: 
> "At
> all meetings of the Board, a majority of the voting members of the 
> Board
> of Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum for the 
> transaction
> of business and the act of the majority of the Trustees present at any
> meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board."
>
> This is a serious difference in practice, and a reason for not 
> including
> the "majority of sitting members" text proposed in A2.

A2 does not contain the phrase "majority of sitting members".

A2 does say "at least half of ... sitting members", which is
perhaps what you are intending to comment on.

Both A2 and G say that the CB decide their consent according
to a mechanism of their own choosing, which provides manuevering
room for the CB to have their own rules (example: ISoc BoT's
Quorum rule) in addition to what is specified in the RFC.

So adopting A2 would not preclude the existing ISoc BoT rules.

Adopting A2 would have the effect of additionally requiring that
at least half of the sitting members on the ISoc BoT approve
IETF-related confirmations.

Reasonable people might reach different conclusions on whether
that effect is desirable.  Reasonable people might also differ
on whether one wants a majority to be required for confirmation
or whether one wants "at least half" to be required for confirmation.

Certainly it is helpful to highlight the differences and discuss
them here on the list.  Thanks for your note.

Thanks very much,

Ran
rja@extremenetworks.com