The terms of appointment for board members of independent regulators An important aspect of institutional arrangements that protect the independence of regulators are the provisions relating to terms of appointment of independent board members. Terms of appointment that span over an electoral cycle is likely to promote independence from the political process. Procedures regarding reappointment should be mindful of the need to guard against the perception of capture by the (reappointing authority (Department of Public Enterprise, 2000). Term limits can be useful to guard against perceived capture, but must avoid unnecessarily depriving the regulatory system of the useful expertise and experience built up by a regulator. Overlapping terms of board members can be a useful mechanism to both provide continuity of approach and protect independence.
