Governance Committee

Discussion of Possible 2011 Bylaw Changes

Create replacement for Bylaw II.2.7 recently repealed (see below)

Issues:

Possible solutions:

Reduce criteria to achieve quorum at Business Meeting

Issues: We consistently have difficulties in achieving a quorum to hold a Business Meeting. Other volunteer-based organizations similar to ESIP generally use 1/2 as the quorum threshold.

Possible Solutions: Change Bylaw II.2.2 from 2/3 to 1/2.

Remove text that is no longer relevant to how the Federation currently conducts business

Issues:

Possible solutions:

Remove antiquated text that refers to past one-time occurrences

Issues: Come text was inserted into bylaws to satisfy a one-time need and is no longer relevant.

Possible solutions: Repeal Bylaw IV.5.7: REASoN projects can submit their application through the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to the Assembly for a vote through a designated form on the ESIP Federation website. This information must be posted for thirty days before an assembly vote can be taken. Research projects generally will be considered ESIP IIs. Application and Education projects generally will be considered ESIP IIIs. Multiple focus projects (e.g. research and application) will need to choose which focus is their primary focus and select which ESIP type is appropriate for their participation. During the thirty-day review period a REASoN partnership application can be sent back to the Partnership Committee for review by a request made to the Chair of the Partnership Committee from any existing Assembly member. Any application that has been sent back to the Partnership Committee will be handled according to the provisions of BYLAW IV, Section 5, Subsections 1 through 5. New REASoN partners will have non-voting status until they first participate in either a voting session of the Assembly or an electronic vote called for by the Executive Committee.

Defining Documents

Federation Constitution

Federation Bylaws

Bylaw Changes Approved Jan 2011

Repeal of Bylaw II.2.7: Resolutions may not be made binding on any ESIP if they would lead to specific obligations on that ESIP without its specific agreement. All binding resolutions shall be by unanimous consent of the entire Assembly. If unanimous consent on a particular course of action cannot be achieved, then the Assembly may either explicitly endorse multiple alternatives, or may "demote" the resolution to non-binding status.

Change of Definition of Type 1 ESIP: Category 1 ESIPs shall be primarily distributors of remotely sensed and ground-based data sets, as well as standardized products derived from those data.

changed to:

Category 1 ESIPs shall be primarily stewards of Earth science and related data sets or its supporting information, as well as providers of standardized products derived from those data.

Procedures to Enact Bylaw Changes

Proposing Amendments

VIII.1.1 Any Representative of the Assembly of Representatives may propose an amendment to the Bylaws of the ESIP Federation.

VIII.1.2 Proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee prior to any action on the proposed amendment and must be signed by at least three Representatives.

Acting on Proposals

VIII.2.1 The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall review the proposal and render an opinion as to its relationship to the Constitution and existing Bylaws.

VIII.2.2 The Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall announce the proposed amendment and the opinion of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to the Assembly prior to any action on the amendment by the Assembly.

VIII.2.3 The proposed amendment shall be debated either using electronic means or at a meeting of the Assembly.

VIII.2.4 The vote shall be by secret ballot. If two-thirds or more of the entire Assembly meeting in quorum vote in favor of the proposed amendment, or if two-thirds or more of all Representatives vote in favor of the proposed amendment using electronic means, it shall be adopted.

Procedures to Enact Constitution Changes

Proposing Amendments

IX.1.1 Any Representative of the Assembly may propose an amendment to the Constitution of the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners.

IX.1.2 Proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee at least sixty days prior to any action on the proposed amendment and must contain endorsement of not less than one-fourth of the representatives of the Assembly.

Acting on Proposals

IX.2.1 The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall review the proposal and render an opinion as to its relationship to the Constitution.

IX.2.2 The Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall circulate the proposed amendment and the opinion of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to the full membership of the Assembly at least thirty days prior to any action on the amendment by the Assembly.

IX.2.3 The proposed amendment shall be debated at the next meeting of the Assembly.

IX.2.4 The vote shall be by secret ballot. If two-thirds or more of the entire Assembly vote in favor of the proposed amendment, it shall be adopted.