Re: [802SEC] What powers does the EC chair have?

["Bob O'Hara (boohara)" <boohara@CISCO.COM>]

Matt,

Looks like this one received a big yawn from the EC.  ;^)

I think that the description you first show below, from the LMSC P&P, is
plenty.  There are no limitations placed on the EC chair there.  Is it
really necessary to say anything more?


 -Bob
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Sherman, Matthew J. (US SSA)
[mailto:matthew.sherman@BAESYSTEMS.COM] 
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 8:39 PM
To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
Subject: [802SEC] What powers does the EC chair have?

Folks,

 

Here is another summary of my opinions:

 

The EC Chair should have the ability to act on behalf of the EC and the
entire LMSC as long as it does not violate the spirit of our P&P and
other governance.  So if something is not covered in our P&P (or higher
governance) the EC Chair should have the latitude to deal with it
directly.  I don't think this right clearly exists in our P&P today.  We
may want to add a clarification to that effect.

 

Detailed analysis:

 

I really couldn't find much in our P&P on this.  Here is a job
description from the currently posted P&P:

 

----------------------------------------------------

LMSC Chair. 

 

The Chair is elected by the EC and confirmed by the Standards Activities
Board. Duties include (but are not limited to) overseeing the activities
of the LMSC, chairing EC and LMSC Plenary meetings, and representing the
LMSC at CS SAB, SA Standard board, and at other organizations as
required.

-----------------------------------------------------

 

This is pretty general and I don't think it is clear on the powers of
the Chair.  We are clear that WG Chairs can act independently on all
procedural matters.  I feel the EC chair should have similar powers.  I
did go through Robert's Rules (though they are not binding) and pulled
the following extracts (I added the parentheticals):

 

---------------------------------------------------------

RROONR Section 47 - Duties of the presiding officer of an assembly
(chair)

 

...

 

To open a meeting at the appointed time by taking the chair and calling
the meeting to order, having ascertained that a quorum is present.
(emphasis added)

 

...

 

To expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of members

 

...

 

To decide all questions of order, subject to appeal, unless, when in
doubt, the presiding officer prefers initially to submit such a question
to the assembly for decision

----------------------------------------------------------

 

These extracts go somewhat beyond the question at hand but also address
other recent procedural issues for the EC.  The one reading 'To expedite
business in every way compatible with the rights of the members' is of
greatest interest to me.  I view it as giving the chair considerable
freedom and latitude to act on behalf of a committee or assembly as long
as it is consistent with the bylaws.  So I feel Robert's Rules supports
giving the Chair latitude to deal with anything not covered by our P&P.

 

Anyway, that's my take.

 

Sleep well everyone.

 

Mat

 

 

Matthew Sherman, Ph.D. 
Senior Member Technical Staff 
BAE SYSTEMS, CNIR 
Office: +1 973.633.6344 
email: matthew.sherman@baesystems.com 

 


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