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title: "Governance"

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The CentOS Project governance structure has two main tiers: 

* The Governing Board, a group of 8 to 11 people, responsible for overall

  oversight of the CentOS Project

* Special Interest Groups (SIGs), teams within the community that focus on

  either enabling a technology solution as an add-on to the core CentOS

  release, or building and maintaining a functional aspect of the Project, such

  as infrastructure or documentation.

<figure class="figure">

  <figcaption class="figure-caption">The Governing Board is like a greenhouse, providing support for starting and maturing a SIG the way a greenhouse uses sunlight, water, nutrients, and soil to turn seeds in to fruiting plants.</figcaption>

</figure>

## The CentOS Governing Board

The focus of the Governing Board is to assist and guide in the progress and

development of the various SIGs, as well as to lead and promote CentOS.

The CentOS Governing Board is the governing body responsible for the overall

oversight of the CentOS Project and SIGs, the creation of new SIGs, and the

election (and re-election) of new board members. The Board also has the

responsibility to ensure the goals, brands, and marks of the CentOS Project and

community are protected. The Board serves as the final authority within the

CentOS Project.

## Current Sitting Board

The initial CentOS Governing Board will be made up of members of the CentOS

Project, many of whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as

well as new members from Red Hat who were instrumental in bringing the new

relationship together. 

The CentOS Governing Board is:

* [Carl Trieloff](http://wiki.centos.org/CarlTrieloff)

* Free Seat

* [Jim Perrin](http://wiki.centos.org/JimPerrin)

* [Johnny Hughes](http://wiki.centos.org/JohnnyHughes)

* [Karanbir Singh](http://wiki.centos.org/KaranbirSingh) ([Chair](/about/governance/board-responsibilities/#chair-responsibilities))

* [Karsten Wade](http://wiki.centos.org/KarstenWade) ([Liaison](/about/governance/board-responsibilities/#red-hat-liaison-responsibilities))

* [Mike McLean](http://wiki.centos.org/MikeMcLean)

* [Ralph Angenendt](http://wiki.centos.org/RalphAngenendt)

* [Tru Huynh](http://wiki.centos.org/TruHuynh)

## More information

* [Governing Board responsibilities](/about/governance/board-responsibilities)

* [SIGs](/about/governance/sigs)

* [Joining the project](/about/governance/joining-the-project)

* [Voting](/about/governance/voting)

* [Appendix:  Glossary](/about/governance/appendix-glossary)