RFC 2027

RFC 2027 · Part 1 of 2 💖 (more coming, bestie, don't leave yet!)

Okay so this is RFC 2027, and it's called IAB and IESG Selection, Confirmation, and Recall Process: Operation of the Nominating and Recall Committees 🎀. J. Galvin from CommerceNet wrote it, it's dated October 1996, and it's a Best Current Practice (BCP: 10), so its category is Best Current Practice. It doesn't list anything it obsoletes or updates, so it's a standalone main character 👑.

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Status of this Memo ✨

This doc specifies an Internet Best Current Practice for the Internet Community, and it's basically begging for discussion and suggestions for improvements 💬. Distribution of this memo is unlimited 🌈.

Abstract 🦋

The process for picking, confirming, and recalling members of the IAB and IESG has been run four times since it was formally created 🔁. The lessons mostly got passed down by "oral tradition" (aka word of mouth, lol), so this document is a self-consistent, organized write-up of how the process works as it's known today 📚.

Table of Contents 🗂️

   1 Introduction ................................................    1
   2 General .....................................................    3
   3 Nominating Committee Selection...............................    6
   4 Nominating Committee Operation...............................    7
   5 Member Recall ...............................................   10
   6 Security Considerations .....................................   11
   7 Editor's Address ............................................   11

1. Introduction 💅

Okay so, by 1992 a bunch of stuff about how the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) ran had been reviewed, and changes were rolling out 🌸. One of those changes was the process for selecting, confirming, and recalling IAB and IESG members. Since 1992, selection and confirmation have happened four times: 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 🗓️. The recall process has never actually been used, so it's a bit of a mystery 🙈.

The only formal record so far is a single paragraph in RFC1602 🤏. Informally, after the 1992 round, an internet draft got distributed that recorded a lot of the details of how that first nominating committee worked 📝. Then in both 1994 and 1995, the POISED working group met, which is how the "oral tradition" of the selection and confirmation lessons got passed along, including the email archives of the working group mailing list 📬. This document is a self-consistent, organized compilation of the process, based on each of those sources 🫶.

The process described here only includes items where the consensus of everyone in those discussions was easily recognized ✅. Because of that, two assumptions get made:

(1) The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) and Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG) are not a part of the process described here.

(2) The organization (and re-organization) of the IESG is not a part of the process described here.

Also, the time frames in this doc are measured against IETF meetings 🗓️. They assume the IETF meets at least once a year, during North American Spring time, i.e., at least on or about March of each year 🌷.

The rest of the document is split into four major topics:

General 🧩 This is a set of rules and constraints that apply to the selection and confirmation process as a whole.

Nominating Committee Selection 🎀 This is the process where volunteers from the IETF community are recognized to serve on the committee that nominates candidates for the IESG and IAB.

Nominating Committee Operation ⚙️ This is the set of principles, rules, and constraints that guide what the nominating committee does, including the confirmation process.

Member Recall 🚨 This is the process where the behavior of a sitting IESG or IAB member may be questioned, which could result in that member being removed.

2. General 👑

Okay bestie, these are the rules that apply to the selection and confirmation process as a whole 🫧. If a rule needs some interpreting, there's a paragraph explaining it right after 💭.

(1) The main job of the nominating committee is to recruit and nominate candidates for open IESG and IAB positions 🔍.

The nominating committee doesn't pick which positions get filled. It gets told which positions to fill 📋. At a minimum, the committee is given the title of the position to be filled. It may also be given a desirable set of qualifications for the candidates it nominates for that position 💼. The nominating committee doesn't confirm its own candidates. It presents them to the appropriate confirming body, as listed below 🎁.

(2) The annual selection and confirmation process is expected to be completed within 3 months ⏰.

It's expected to be completed one month before the friday of the week before the Spring IETF, and it's expected to begin 4 months before that same friday 🗓️.

(3) One-half of each of the then-current IESG and IAB positions is selected to be refilled each year 🔄.

A given position gets selected every other year. The intent is to replace no more than 50% of the sitting IESG and IAB members in any one year 🙅‍♀️.

A position may be refilled with its sitting member, as long as the nominating committee nominates that sitting member 💜.

(4) Confirmed candidates are expected to serve at least a 2 year term 📅.

All member terms end during the Spring IETF meeting that matches the end of the term they were confirmed for 🌷. The term ends no later than the second-to-last day and no sooner than the Open Plenary session of the Spring IETF. That timing is decided by mutual agreement between the confirmed candidate and the currently sitting member 🤝. The term begins no later than the last day and no sooner than the Open Plenary session of the Spring IETF meeting, again by mutual agreement between the confirmed candidate and the currently sitting member 🦋.

(5) Mid-term IESG vacancies are filled by the same rules documented here, with four qualifications 🧁. First, the most recently constituted nominating committee gets reconvened to nominate a candidate for the vacancy. Second, the selection and confirmation process is expected to be completed within 1 month, with a prorated time period for all other time periods not otherwise specified 📆. Third, the confirming body has two weeks from the day it's notified of a candidate to reject that candidate. Otherwise, the candidate is assumed to have been confirmed ✅. Fourth, the term of the confirmed candidate will be either:

a. the remainder of the term of the open position, if that remainder is not less than one year.

b. the remainder of the term of the open position plus the next 2 year term, if that remainder is less than one year.

(6) Mid-term IAB vacancies are filled by the same rules documented here, with four qualifications 🌈. First, the most recently constituted nominating committee gets reconvened to nominate a candidate for the vacancy. Second, the selection and confirmation process is expected to be completed within 1 month, with a prorated time period for all other time periods not otherwise specified 📆. Third, the confirming body has two weeks from the day it's notified of a candidate to reject that candidate. Otherwise, the candidate is assumed to have been confirmed ✅. Fourth, the term of the confirmed candidate will be either:

a. the remainder of the term of the open position, if that remainder is not less than one year.

b. the remainder of the term of the open position plus the next 2 year term, if that remainder is less than one year.

(7) All deliberations and supporting information from everyone in the selection and confirmation process are private 🔒. The nominating committee and confirming body members will get access to confidential information through their deliberations, through their conversations with the people they consult, and from nominees who provide requested supporting information 🫣. All members and all other participants are expected to handle that information in a way that matches how sensitive it is 🤫.

(8) Unless otherwise specified, the advise and consent model is used throughout the process 🫶. Here's how it works:

a. The IETF Executive Director advises the nominating committee of the IESG and IAB positions to be refilled 📣.

b. The nominating committee selects candidates and advises the confirming bodies of them 🎯.

c. The sitting IAB members review the IESG candidates, consenting to some, all, or none of them 👀.

If all of the candidates are confirmed, the nominating committee's job for the open IESG positions is considered complete 🎉. If some or none of the candidates are confirmed, the nominating committee must reconvene to select alternate candidates for the rejected ones. Any extra time the nominating committee needs should not exceed its maximum time allotment ⏳.

d. The Internet Society Board of Trustees reviews the IAB candidates, consenting to some, all, or none of them 🌍.

If all of the candidates are confirmed, the nominating committee's job for the open IAB positions is considered complete 🎉. If some or none of the candidates are confirmed, the nominating committee must reconvene to select alternate candidates for the rejected ones. Any extra time the nominating committee needs should not exceed its maximum time allotment ⏳.

e. The confirming bodies decide their consent using a mechanism of their own choosing, which must ensure that at least one-half of the sitting members agree with the decision 🗳️.

At least one-half of the sitting members of the confirming bodies must agree to either confirm or reject each individual nominee. That agreement must be reached within a reasonable timeframe. The agreement may be decided by holding a formal vote, by asserting consensus based on informal exchanges (email), or by whatever mechanism is used to conduct the confirming body's normal business 💬.

3. Nominating Committee Selection 🧚

Okay, these rules cover how the nominating committee gets created and how its members get selected 🌸.

(1) The committee is made up of at least a non-voting Chair, 10 voting volunteers, and 2 non-voting liaisons 🎀.

A Chair is allowed to invite additional non-voting advisors to take part in some or all of the committee's deliberations 💜.

Part 1 ends here, bestie! 🫶 Part 2 picks up with the rest of Section 3 and everything after it. Stay tuned 🦋.

(2) The Internet Society President appoints the non-voting Chair, who must meet the usual requirements for membership in the nominating committee. 🎀

The nominating committee Chair must agree to invest the time necessary to complete the duties of the nominating committee and to perform in the best interests of the IETF community during the performance of those duties. 💖

(3) The Chair grabs the list of IESG and IAB positions to be refilled and publishes it along with a solicitation for names of volunteers from the IETF community who are willing to serve on the nominating committee. 📣

The list of open positions is published with the solicitation so community members can choose between volunteering for an open position and volunteering for the nominating committee. It's giving choice! 🦋

The list and solicitation must be publicized using at least the same mechanism the IETF secretariat uses for its announcements. 📢

(4) Members of the IETF community must have attended at least 2 of the last 3 IETF meetings in order to volunteer. No attendance, no volunteering, bestie. 🧚

(5) Internet Society Board of Trustees members, sitting members of the IAB, and sitting members of the IESG may not volunteer. 🙈

(6) The Chair randomly selects the 10 voting volunteers from the pool of names of volunteers. Pure luck energy! 🎲✨

(7) The sitting IAB and IESG members each appoint a non-voting liaison to the nominating committee from their current membership who are not sitting in an open position. 🌸

(8) The Chair may solicit additional non-voting liaisons from other organizations, who must meet the usual requirements for membership in the nominating committee. 🫶

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4. Nominating Committee Operation 💅

The following rules apply to the operation of the nominating committee. If necessary, a paragraph discussing the interpretation of each rule is included. 🔥

The rules are organized roughly in the order they would be invoked, so you can follow along like a playlist. 🎧

The term nominee refers to an individual under consideration by the nominating committee. The term candidate refers to a nominee that has been selected by the nominating committee to be considered for confirmation by a confirming body. A confirmed candidate is a candidate that has been reviewed and approved by a confirming body. Sooo many terms, but they're super important! 🤓💜

(1) All rules and special circumstances not otherwise specified are at the discretion of the Chair. 👑

Exceptional circumstances will occasionally pop up during normal operation of the nominating committee. This rule exists to keep the committee moving forward. All members should consider whether the exception is worth mentioning in the next revision of this document, and then follow up accordingly. 🌈

(2) The Chair must establish and publicize milestones, which must include at least a call for nominations. ⭐

There is a defined time period during which the selection and confirmation process must be completed. The Chair must set up milestones that, if met in a timely fashion, will get the process finished on time. The Chair should leave room for iterating the committee's activities if one or more candidates aren't confirmed. Plan for the plot twist! 🍓

The milestones must be publicized using at least the same mechanism the IETF secretariat uses for its announcements. 📢

(3) The Chair must establish a voting mechanism. 🗳️

The committee must be able to objectively figure out when a decision has been made during its deliberations. The criteria for closing a decision must be established and known to all members of the nominating committee. No vibes-based decisions here! ✨

(4) At least a quorum of committee members must participate in a vote. A quorum is comprised of at least 7 voting members. 💜

(5) The Chair may establish a process by which a member of the nominating committee may be recalled. 🧹

The process, if established, must be agreed to by a 3/4 majority of the members of the nominating committee, including the non-voting members, since they would be subject to the same process. Fair is fair, periodt! ⚖️

(6) All members of the nominating committee may participate in all deliberations. 🫶

The emphasis of this rule is that no member, whether voting or non-voting, can be explicitly excluded from any deliberation. However, a member may individually choose not to participate in a deliberation. Nobody gets left out of the group chat, but you can mute it if you want. 🙈

(7) The Chair announces the open positions to be filled and the call for nominees. 📣

The announcements must be publicized using at least the same mechanism the IETF secretariat uses for its announcements. 📢

(8) Any member of the IETF community may nominate any member of the IETF community for any open position. 🌟

A self-nomination is permitted. Go get that main character energy! 💅

(9) Nominating committee members must not be nominees. 🚫

To be a nominee is to enter the process of being selected as a candidate and confirmed. Nominating committee members are not eligible to be considered for filling any open position. Stay in your lane, judge! ⚖️

(10) Members of the IETF community who were recalled from any IESG or IAB position during the previous two years must not be nominees. 💀

(11) The nominating committee selects candidates based on its understanding of the IETF community's consensus on the qualifications required to fill the open positions. 🔍

(12) Nominees should be advised that they are being considered and must consent to their nomination prior to being confirmed. 💌

The nominating committee should help nominees put together justification for their employers. Bestie support! 🫶

A nominee's consent must be written (email is acceptable) and include a commitment to provide the resources necessary to fill the open position, and an assurance that the nominee will perform the duties of the position for which they are being considered in the best interests of the IETF community. Pinky promise, in writing! 🎀

(13) The nominating committee advises the confirming bodies of their candidates, specifying a single candidate for each open position and a testament as to how each candidate meets the qualifications of an open position. 📝

The testament may include a brief resume of the candidate and a summary of the nominating committee's deliberations. Receipts, anyone? 🧾

(14) With respect to any action to be taken in the context of notifying and announcing confirmed candidates, and notifying rejected nominees and candidates, the action must be valid according to all of the rules specified below prior to its execution. 🚦

a. Up until a candidate is confirmed, the identity of the candidate must be kept strictly confidential. 🤐

b. The identity of all nominees must be kept strictly confidential, except that the nominee may publicize their own intentions. Their story, their post! 📱

c. Rejected nominees may be notified as soon as they are rejected. 💌

d. Rejected candidates may be notified as soon as they are rejected. 💌

e. Rejected nominees and candidates must be notified prior to announcing confirmed candidates. Nobody gets spoiled! 😭

f. Confirmed candidates may be notified and announced as soon as they are confirmed. 🎉

It is consistent with these rules for a nominee to never know whether they were a candidate or not. 🙃

It is consistent with these rules for a nominating committee to reject some nominees early in the process and to keep some nominees as alternates in case a candidate is rejected by a confirming body. Whether a confirmed candidate was a first choice or an alternate is information that need not ever be disclosed and, in fact, probably never should be. Iykyk, and nobody's telling! 🤫

It is consistent with these rules for confirmed candidates to be notified and announced as quickly as possible, instead of requiring all confirmed candidates to wait until every open position has been refilled. No waiting around for the group photo! 📸

The announcements must be publicized using at least the same mechanism the IETF secretariat uses for its announcements. 📢

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5. Member Recall 🦋

The following rules apply to the recall process. If necessary, a paragraph discussing the interpretation of each rule is included. 🎀

(1) Anyone may request the recall of any sitting IAB or IESG member, at any time, upon written (email is acceptable) request with justification to the Internet Society President. 📜

(2) Internet Society President shall appoint a Recall Committee Chair. 👑

The Internet Society President must not evaluate the recall request. It is explicitly the responsibility of the IETF community to evaluate the behavior of its leaders. The community is the judge, not the president! ⚖️

(3) The recall committee is created according to the same rules as the nominating committee, with the qualifications that the person being investigated and the person requesting the recall must not be a member of the recall committee in any capacity. 🚫

(4) The recall committee operates according to the same rules as the nominating committee, with the qualification that there is no confirmation process. 🌸

(5) The recall committee investigates the circumstances of the justification for the recall and votes on its findings. 🔎

The investigation must include at least both an opportunity for the member being recalled to present a written statement and consultation with third parties. Everyone gets their side heard, no cap! 🗣️

(6) A 3/4 majority of the members who vote on the question is required for a recall. 💫

If a sitting member is recalled, the open position is to be filled according to the mid-term vacancy rules. 🔄

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6. Security Considerations 🔐

Any selection, confirmation, or recall process necessarily involves investigation into the qualifications and activities of prospective candidates. The investigation may reveal confidential or otherwise private information about candidates to those participating in the process. This part is serious, so no oversharing! 😬

Each person who participates in any aspect of the process has a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of any and all information not explicitly identified as suitable for public dissemination. Keep the tea locked up, periodt! 🤐🫖

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7. Editor's Address 🖋️

James M. Galvin CommerceNet P.O. Box 220 Glenwood, MD 21738

Email: galvin@commerce.net Phone: +1 410.795.6882