Hi.

BTW: I think the issue here refers to both constituencies and their membership, though the question is specifically prompted by an NCUC membership FAQ.

The NCUC membership FAQ <https://community.icann.org/download/attachments/15630409/NCSG-NCUC-Organization-member-Application.htm?version=1&modificationDate=1320787802795> says the following:

> 3.     Should I be a member both of NCUC and NCSG?
>  
> Yes. Membership in NCUC is important because .... However, one should be a member of NCSG in order to be able to vote in the elections concerning the NCSG Chair and the NCSG Councilors that sit at the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO).
>  

This  brings up a question since it seems to allow for one to decide not to join both (though of course I may be misreading it, i.e it says 'should' and not 'must')

According to the charter, as I read it, one needs to be an NCSG member in order to join any of the constituencies as a member.

> 2.3 Constituencies
> 
> Constituencies are structures by which NCSG members with similar concerns and interests can work together on the GNSO policy process. Constituencies will be eligible for representation on all NCSG committees. As Constituencies are comprised of NCSG members with voting rights, Constituencies do not maintain any voting rights.

So the question, can one be a member of a constituency without also being a NCSG member?

I have always supposed that Constituencies could have associates or observers who were not members, but I thought that to be a member of a constituency, one must be a member of the NCSG first.  

Does this assumption correspond to the way other NCSG members read the charter? And does it correspond to the way the Constituency charters are written?

avri