Definition of power and responsibility

[Brian E Carpenter]

Ran,

I basically agree with you. One comment below...

RJ Atkinson wrote:
> 
> On Tuesday, Mar 4, 2003, at 05:46 America/Montreal, Brian E Carpenter
> wrote:
> > It's clear already that the IESG's power is granted to it
> > by the IETF.
> 
> What has (historically) been missing was an "IESG Charter" document.
> Such documents (normally issued as BCPs with the full process that
> implies) constitute the formal delineation and grant of powers by
> the IETF Community to the body that is chartered.
> 
> It appears that this is in the process of being remedied.
> 
> > What we seem to lack [new problem statement coming up...]
> > is a clear definition of the powers granted to WG chairs
> > and editors.
> 
> s/What we seem/We also seem/
> 
> This is also partly implicit in RFC-2026 (and its amendments),
> but is currently ambiguous and unclear in places.
> 
> > Also, there is no power without responsibility. By granting the
> > power to publish or not publish an RFC to the IESG, we have
> > also given the IESG the responsibility for quality control.
> > And when they carry out this responsibility, please don't
> > blame them.
> 
> s/RFC/standards-track RFC or IETF-WG-originated RFC/
> 
> The IESG does NOT have the power to block publication of non-IETF
> RFCs that are not on the standards-track.  Examples of non-IETF
> RFCs include IAB documents, IRTF documents, and individual-submission
> documents that are obviously unrelated to any IETF activity.
> IESG can *recommend* to RFC-Editor that any document not be published,
> but for the non-IETF documents, that is *advice* rather than an
> *edict*.

Correct, but the IESG does have the power to insert an IESG Statement
in such an RFC, also known as a health warning. (No, that power is
probably not documented in our process documents, but it's real
enough.)


> 
> > So, can we ... start talking about the need
> > for clear definitions of what powers and responsibilities the
> > IETF grants to *each* level in our structure?
> 
> Agree that we need more clarity.
> 
> Ran
> rja at extremenetworks.com

-- 
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Brian E Carpenter 
Distinguished Engineer, Internet Standards & Technology, IBM 
On assignment at the IBM Zurich Laboratory, Switzerland