CIO Council
Architecture and Infrastructure Committee

 Charter Renewal: XML Working Group
Informally Approved by the AIC - September 23, 2002
xmlWG Consensus Draft - September 18, 2002
Discussion Draft - August 27, 2002
Replaces http://xml.gov/documents/completed/charter1st.htm (local copy)
formerly at http://www.cio.gov/Documents/cio_eieit_xml_workgroup_Jul_2000.html

(1) Authority. The XML Working Group (xmlWG) is chartered by the Architecture and Infrastructure Committee (AIC) under the authority granted in the CIO Council's charter "to establish standing committees and working groups as necessary to consider items of concern to the Council."

(2) Background. On May 18, 2000, the AIC (formerly called the Enterprise Information and Emerging Information Technology Committee) received and reviewed a report submitted by a team that had been charged with researching the potential of Extensible Markup Language (XML) to improve the efficiency of Federal information management. XML is a standard recommended by the W3C Consortium. It defines a general method for describing the semantics of data structures. The report identified an opportunity to accelerate and increase the effectiveness by which XML is implemented by Federal agencies, and recommended that the Committee charter a working group to implement the program of activities and projects outlined in the report. The xmlWG was initially chartered to operate for a period of approximately two years, through September 30, 2002.  During that period, the xmlWG reserved and began populating the xml.gov domain, conducted monthly meetings and informational briefings, developed a basic strategy, and identified several tasks and deliverables that are documented on the xml.gov site. The initial charter expressly stated, "The XMLWG will not take on continuing operational or policy responsibilities."  However, the AIC plans to assume a more operational orientation in its future activities. Thus, the xmlWG is hereby rechartered and charged with taking a more operational (as opposed to educational) focus, in the sense of proposing for consideration by the AIC specific product deliverables that will generate significant benefits to multiple government agencies, including not only Federal but also State and local agencies.

(3) Purpose. The purpose of the xmlWG is to accelerate, facilitate and catalyze the effective and appropriate implementation of XML technology in the information systems and planning of the Federal Government. In coordination with other CIO Council committees and working groups, the xmlWG will:

Identify and, when necessary, develop XML best practices and recommended standards;

Foster partnerships with key industry and public interest groups developing and implementing XML standards and best practices;

Foster partnerships among communities of interest/practice involving agencies at all levels of government to capitalize as rapidly and effectively as possible on the potential benefits of XML to citizens and taxpayers;

Conduct "results-oriented" education and outreach; and

Propose for consideration by the AIC specific projects and products benefiting stakeholders of multiple Federal agencies.

Wherever possible, the xmlWG will seek to achieve the highest impact from resources by building on initiatives and projects that are underway in the Federal Government, or elsewhere in the public or private sectors. Although the xmlWG itself will not assume operational or policy enforcement responsibilities, consistent with the new orientation of the AIC, the xmlWG will identify and recommend to the AIC specific tasks and projects warranting the commitment of operational resources. As authorized and directed by the AIC, the xmlWG Co-Chairs may establish task teams to further specify and pursue the development and implementation of discrete projects and/or project components.

(4) Participation and decision-making. With limited exceptions, participation in the xmlWG is open, not only to employees and contractors of government agencies at all levels of government but also to vendors and individuals who wish to contribute to the efficient and effective use of XML by government agencies. Generally speaking, the xmlWG will operate by consensus. However, taking into account the views of the participants, the Co-Chairs will determine the meeting agendas as well as which issues and potential projects to bring to the attention of the AIC. If funding or procurement issues are to be discussed, the Co-Chairs will limit participation appropriately. In addition, as may be appropriate, the Co-Chairs will seek to have government employees assigned to assist with specific project-oriented tasks that may be designated as priorities by the AIC.

(5) Duration. The xmlWG's Charter shall expire on September 30, 2004.

(6) Leadership. The Co-Chairs of the xmlWG are appointed by and may be replaced by the Co-Chairs of the AIC at anytime. The xmlWG Co-Chairs shall report regularly to the AIC and shall ensure that a clear and complete record of the activities of the xmlWG is maintained on  the xml.gov site. As requested or approved by the AIC Co-Chairs, the xmlWG Co-Chairs may designate project task team leaders.

(7) Publication of xmlWG information. The schedule, agendas, presentations, and minutes of xmlWG meetings, planned tasks and deliverables, and other pertinent documentation shall be posted in timely fashion on the xml.gov site, along with listings of meeting and project participants.

(8) Meetings. Meetings of the xmlWG shall be held monthly, or as otherwise determined by the Co-Chairs, and may be held in person, or through other conferencing approaches.  Meetings shall be announced at least 48 hours in advance via the xmlWG mailing list and shall be open to all Federal officials representing their agencies.  Meetings shall also be open to the interested public unless confidential information or procurement-related matters are to be discussed. Special meetings of the xmlWG and meetings of any project task teams that may be formed will be scheduled at the call of the Chair(s) or team leader.

(9) Support. The CIO Council shall provide the xmlWG financial support as necessary and approved for its activities (including any project tasks that may be assigned to the xmlWG) generally in connection with the annual budget cycle of Council. In addition, the Council and AIC shall provide guidance on priorities and policies for its activities, particularly with respect to project-oriented tasks, and shall provide liaison with central policy organizations of the Federal Government.