IEEE Governance Committee Charter

The IEEE Governance Committee is a standing committee of the IEEE Board of Directors and shall be responsible to the IEEE Board of Directors as set forth in Bylaw I-305.7.

• Reviewing, on a regular basis, the overall corporate governance of the IEEE, evaluating overall governance effectiveness and efficiency, and recommending improvements, including improvements to the Board’s operations.
• Reviewing and developing recommendations based on current best practices, regarding Board composition as a whole and, working with the IEEE Nominations and Appointments Committee, identifying qualifications and expertise needed by new Board members to assist the various nominations committees.
• Providing guidance to management on issues related to organizational structure.
• Developing and overseeing IEEE’s governing documents including the IEEE Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaw, Policies, Committee Charters and Operations Manuals, and other related governing documents.
• Providing input on content for Director training.

• Assisting the Board of Directors with its annual self evaluation and determination as to whether it and its boards and committees are functioning effectively.
• Reviewing the IEEE Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaw and Policies revisions to be acted upon by the IEEE Board of Directors, identifying conflicts or additional changes that might be required, and assisting with drafting appropriate wording to assure each revision clearly reflects the desired change.
• Submitting recommendations to the IEEE Board of Directors on items affecting changes to the IEEE Bylaws, Policies, or related documents with respect to need, appropriateness and effectiveness.
• Reviewing new and revised Standing Committee Charters and Operations Manuals, and reviewing revisions to the Major Boards Operations Manuals, prior to approval by the respective bodies, in accordance with IEEE Bylaw I-303.9.
  A member of the IEEE staff, as designated by the IEEE Executive Director, who shall normally be the Governance Committee Staff Secretary, shall review amendments to the Major Board Operations Manuals not requiring IEEE Board approval. Members of the Governance Committee and/or IEEE’s legal counsel shall be consulted when appropriate. A report on all such amendments shall be provided to the Committee.
•  Monitoring and assessing the IEEE’s organizational structure for effectiveness and efficiency in carrying out IEEE’s mission.
  
  One aspect of assisting the IEEE Board in this area is done through the review of Standing Committees. There are three parts to the Governance Committee’s participation in the review of Standing Committees:

1. Through the normal process of the review of proposals for new Standing Committees, prior to approval by the IEEE Board of the Bylaw and Charter or Operations Manual. The Governance Committee looks for clarity with respect to scope, function, and defined responsibilities, including the possible overlap of responsibilities with other Committees or organizational units.
2. Through the charge to the Governance Committee, as described in this Charter, to review the overall corporate governance of IEEE and to recommend improvements to the Board.
3. By conducting an in-depth review, or micro-level analysis of a Standing Committee to ensure that it is functioning effectively and efficiently.  The Committee shall conduct in-depth reviews of IEEE Standing Committees at the direction of the IEEE Board, or upon requests made to the IEEE President or Secretary. In the case of non-Board requests, the President and Secretary shall consult on these requests and make a determination whether a review should be initiated or not. The Governance Committee shall begin work after a positive determination. The initiation of the review by this process shall be reported to the Board at its next meeting. The reviews may include but are not limited to: assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of work performed in line with the charge to the Committee under review; appropriate level of support; Standing Committee membership structure and expertise necessary; and, any specific areas of focus noted at the time of the request. A final report on all reviews, including any recommendations of the Governance Committee, shall be provided to the IEEE Board of Directors.

• Overseeing the orientation of new Board members.