Hello All, Below are the terms of reference for the GNSO review derived from: http://www.icann.org/gnso/review-reference-terms-27oct05.htm GNSO Review Terms of Reference 4.1. There are two key elements to the GNSO Review. The first is a review of the GNSO as a whole to determine whether that organization has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure. The second is a review of each of the Constituencies which constitute the GNSO to determine whether those Constituencies represent the interests of global stakeholders in an open and transparent manner. 4.2. The focus areas, outlined below, seek to examine and quantify the extent to which the GNSO as a whole and the Constituencies, as individual entities, reflect global stakeholder interests; whether the operation of each Constituency is open and transparent and whether the procedures used within the Constituencies to develop bottom up policy are designed to achieve fairness. 4.3. The focus areas can be grouped as follows. The questions outlined here are not, in any way, designed to limit the analysis of substantive issues which arise throughout the course of the Review. 4.3.1 Representativeness: Analysis in this part of the Review could include the questions outlined below: whether the Constituencies, on a global basis, represent the stakeholders they claim to represent and whether sufficiently diverse groups are consulted to develop consensus-based policy whether the Constituencies operate in an open and transparent manner; whether Constituencies are open to individuals or corporations who wish to participate; whether the membership procedures are open and transparent and whether the current Constituencies best reflect global representation of a diversity of stakeholder positions whether additional Constituencies would capture new contributions and input from other stakeholders in the policy development process whether there are any barriers to the participation of all who are willing to contribute to the work of the GNSO, for example, technical, financial or geographic limitations whether the ICANN Board is satisfied with the advice it receives from the Constituencies to ensure that advice reflects consideration of all stakeholder interests and the widest possible consultation with affected parties including other ICANN supporting organisations and advisory committees whether there is sufficient time and opportunity for advice and information from the GNSO Constituencies and whether amending timeframes would increase the quality of the work output whether other supporting organisations and advisory committees such as the At Large Advisory Committee and the Government Advisory Committee have effective opportunities to participate in the policy development process whether the GNSO Council manages the policy development process in a timely and efficient manner looking at the types and kinds of issues under consideration and the resources devoted to that consideration whether the Council effectively manages open forums, mailing lists and public comment opportunities that enable global participation by any affected stakeholders whether the individual Constituencies, in contributing to the development of consensus based policies, conduct their operations to the maximum extent possible, to enable broad participation including outreach activities whether GNSO Council weighted voting patterns are still appropriate in the GNSO's policy development processes whether the GNSO Council has successfully implemented the recommendations of the 2004 GNSO Council Review whether the existing constituency structure could be rationalized, changed or improved in any way to increase participation in the policy development processes within the GNSO whether the GNSO Council Bylaws need amending in any way to reflect improved processes for increasing participation, seeking other stakeholder views and deriving consensus based policies that reflect ICANN's public interest principles 4.3.2 Effectiveness. Analysis in this part of the Review could include the questions outlined below: examination of the time and resources (including staff, financial and outside assistance) used by both Council and the Constituencies to develop policy positions and whether the purpose of GNSO policy development processes is clearly articulated examination of the benefit to all affected parties of the use of ICANN time and resources in developing policy positions and particularly whether Constituency expectations are being met examination of ICANN's Strategic Plan process and how that relates to the development of GNSO policy development processes; examination of the GNSO Strategic Plan process and opportunities for the policy development process to reflect rapid market changes whether the PDP process needs to be amended to reflect new participants, different kinds of issues, more realistic timeframes for workflow and interaction with other ICANN entities and different ways of communicating policy positions, taking into consideration the GNSO Council Review recommendations whether the ICANN Board is satisfied with the policy recommendations it receives from the GNSO and if that advice could be improved in any way analysis of whether the work output from the GNSO Council and Constituencies reflects the expertise and market knowledge of constituency members to ensure best practice policy development whether the GNSO Council recommendations have been implemented successfully and whether further work needs to be done to ensure implementation 4.3.3 Transparency. Analysis in this part of the Review could include the questions outlined below: whether decisions are made by applying documented policies neutrally and objectively; whether those entities which are affected by decisions have adequate mechanisms for participation through the Constituencies whether policy decisions are made in a way which demonstrates that participants are accountable to the Internet community and whether statements of interest are explicitly made on each issue under consideration whether the GNSO's website and the Constituencies' websites operate effectively as tools for transmitting a wide variety of procedural and substantive information on the policy development process whether new technologies and systems could be used to augment the work of the Constituencies and GNSO Council analysis of the recording, publishing and notification of significant input and decisions contributing to the policy development process of the GNSO Council, GNSO taskforces, workgroups and Constituencies analysis of ICANN face to face meetings and their contribution to the work of the GNSO, its taskforces, workgroups and Constituencies in facilitating their contribution to the development of policy advice 4.3.4 Compliance. Analysis in this part of the Review could include the questions outlined below: whether the GNSO Council and the GNSO Constituencies comply with the ICANN Bylaws and with their own rules and procedures whether there is effective alignment of the GNSO structure and policy development process that delivers practical policies which can be effectively implemented whether there are sound linkages between the GNSO's policy development processes and ICANN's policy compliance programme whether there is effective cooperation between the policy development and operational aspects of the ICANN organisation to implement consensus based policy