Representation in Cyberspace Study

Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School

[main] [workshop]

1) How membership relates to the organization

a) Membership versus citizenship

b) Legitimating and checking functions of membership

c) What the organization does/should do is not on the table - tailoring the membership to that function
2) Questions:

a) Who is a member?

i) Criteria

ii) Verification (fees, identity authentication)

iii) Rights and obligations

iv) Classes of membership?

b) Safeguards against capture

i) "Capture" presumes we know what the legitimate interests are, to distinguish from overrepresentation of a special interest

ii) Who might capture, and how?

iii) General and specific prevention

c) Election procedures

i) Nomination: candidate criteria, selection of nominees, commitment required

ii) Nominating / membership committee?

iii) Geographic diversity requirement
3) Research:

a) Membership organizations

i) Interviews with directors

ii) Analysis of bylaws

iii) Questions on comparisons of particular interest

b) Academics/experts

i) Corporate governance

ii) Political theory

iii) Voting rights

iv) International relations

v) Legal requirements

vi) Management/administration

c) Interested parties

i) What are their concerns with regard to membership?

ii) Do they have proposals or relevant experience?
4) Models
5) Analysis against our questions and the principles of the WP and bylaws
6) Recommendations

Last modified 2/15/99 by Wendy Seltzer.
Berkman Center for Internet & Society