Articles of Association Chinese Domain Name Consortium

Chapter One General

Article 1-Tenet
To coordinate the development, operation and administration of Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses, promote the application and popularization of Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses and boost the participation of Chinese user groups in international and local activities, the Chinese Domain Name Consortium (hereinafter referred to as CDNC) is hereby founded.

Article 2-Setup and Nature of CDNC
Advocated by the Internet network information centers (CNNIC, TWNIC, HKNIC and MONIC) in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao across the Taiwan Straits, CDNC enjoys a wide range of members such as organizations and individuals working for the R&D, policy-making and management concerning Chinese domain names across the world. It is an independent, multiple-stakeholder and non-profit organization, affiliated to no other organizations.

Article 3-Duties of CDNC
CDNC aims to:
1. Research on the registry and operation of Chinese domain names and the best practices of Chinese email addresses; and boost the promotion and popularization of Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses;
2. Establish the information and knowledge exchange platform related to Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses;
3. Boost the participation of Chinese user groups in the international and local forums;
4. Coordinate and handle other issues related to Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses;
Article 4-Working language of CDNC shall mainly be Chinese.

Chapter Two Organizational Structure

Article 5-Members of CDNC are organizations and individuals, who elect representatives constituting the Board of CDNC. The Secretariat subject to the Board of CDNC manages the day-to-day operation.

Article 6-Any organization or individual devoted to promoting and driving the technical R&D , policy development, operation and administration of Chinese domain names and Chinese email addresses can apply for membership of CDNC. Any organization or individual desiring to become a member shall submit its application to the CDNC Secretariat. Full members shall be approved by the Board of CDNC. Observers shall be approved by the secretariat.
Members of CDNC include:
1. Founding Members: The Internet network information centers (CNNIC, TWNIC, HKNIC and MONIC) in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao who initiated the founding of CDNC.
2. Registration Service Members: Any ccTLD and gTLD registry provided with Chinese domain names and Backend service provider can file an application.
3. Independent Expert Members: Any expert who is devoted to the R&D, standards formulation and policy-making concerning Chinese domain name can apply to be Independent Expert Member.
4. Observers: Any organization or individual working on the service or technology of the international domain name can apply or be invited to sign up.
Any organization or individual is entitled to one type of membership.
Founding Members, Registration Service Members and Independent Expert Members are Full Members.

Article 7-Rights and obligations of members:
Full Members:
1. Are entitled to attend relevant meetings and activities of CDNC;
2. Are entitled to nominate and elect Board members, as well as be elected as Board member; 
3. Are entitled to propose the setup of working groups and apply for participation in relevant working groups;
4. Are entitled to put forward suggestions on relevant technologies and policies;
5. Shall comply with these Articles of Association and decisions of the Board;
6. Shall comply with the technical standards and managing regulations on the Chinese domain names made by CDNC;
7. Shall advocate the decisions and standing of the CDNC in international activities.
Observers:

1. Are entitled to be invited to attend relevant meetings and activities of CDNC;
2. Are entitled to discuss the technologies and policies and make suggestions;
3. Are entitled to be invited to join the working groups.

Article 8-The Board of CDNC is the decision-making organ with seven to nine directors, while Founding Members occupy 4 seats, Registration Service Members 3 and Independent Expert Members 2 maximally.
Founding Member representatives are appointed by the four founding organizations; Registration Service Member representatives come from voluntary election; and Independent Expert Member representatives will be elected by the former Board of CDNC.
The tenure of the directors shall be two year. Any personnel change occurred during the tenure (besides personal reasons) shall be voted by the Board of CDNC.
The Board shall have two co-chairmen, who shall be elected by the Board and can be re-elected.

Article 9-The Board shall be entitled to:
1. Make and revise Articles of Association of CDNC;
2. Elect Co-chairmen of the Board;
3. Propose key matters;

Article 10-The Board meeting may be held when it is attended by at least 2/3 of the directors (or representatives authorized by them), and decisions of the Board meeting may take effect after being approved by more than 2/3 of the attending directors (or representatives authorized by them).

Article 11-In principle, the Board meeting shall be held in any form possible at least once a year. In case of necessity, an ac hoc meeting may be convened.

Article 12-Annual meeting of CDNC shall be held. At the meeting, activities of CDNC and results thereof shall be reported, and the work plan for the following year shall be released.

Article 13-CDNC has a secretariat, with up to three co-secretary generals appointed by co-chairmen. The secretariat shall:
1. Assist the Board for its daily work and implement the decisions made by CDNC and the Board;
2. Coordinate and keep contact with all working groups.
3. Arrange CDNC meetings and ensure quality records and documents to be filed properly;
4. Update and maintain the CDNC website and the mailing list of CDNC members;
5. Promote the CDNC at all outreach activities.

Chapter Three Working Groups

Article 14-The working groups are the consulting organs of the Board of CDNC. Members of CDNC may propose setup of working groups on an as-needed basis, which shall be approved by a simple majority of the Board of CDNC.

Article 15-Members of all working groups must be:
1. members of CDNC; and
2. Knowledgeable of Chinese domain names and willing to participate in activities related to the development of Chinese domain name.

Article 16-The working groups shall put forward proposals and opinions to the Board of CDNC and the annual meeting on specific fields that they are responsible.

Article 17-Each working group shall have one person responsible for convening the working group meetings, who shall be appointed or dismissed by the Board of CDNC. The convener shall be proficient in Chinese, and shall preside over the work of his or her working group.

Chapter Four Miscellaneous

Article 18-These Articles of Association were approved and took effect at the preparative meeting convened by the initiators on May 19, 2000, and were modified successively by the Board of CDNC at the 16th meeting on October 12, 2008, at the 18th Board meeting on June 23, 2009, and at the CDNC Beijing special meeting on March 23, 2012 .The fourth revision of the Articles of Association will be present on March 13, 2015.

Article 19-The revised Articles of Association shall be approved by at least 2/3 of the Full members.

Article 20-These Articles of Association shall be interpreted by the Board of CDNC.