In an email just sent to Academy members that Deadline has obtained, there will be a big change in how the AMPAS President may serve. In a bylaw change that will directly affect future elections for President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and in order to provide greater consistency and continuity with the office of the President, the AMPAS Board of Governors have voted to allow any sitting President to serve up to four consecutive one-year terms regardless of their time served overall on the board. Previously a President could only run for re-election if they had not reached the term limit of two Governor terms of three years each. After that they have been required to take a two year hiatus before running for a board seat again. Now they will be able to be re-elected President even if they have been termed out on the board, but have not served up to four one-year terms as president.
This key change came from board members but will, for example, affect the current President Lynette Howell Taylor who was elected for her first one-year term in 2025, but under the old bylaws would have been termed out beyond that since she will have served two three year Governor terms. Under the new bylaw she will be able to run again three more times until serving four consecutive one-year terms as President should she continue to run and be re-elected.
Another change made by the Board and to ensure equity in board representation among branches, as of the 2026-2027 Board year, all 19 Academy branches will each have three branch-elected governors, adding additional governors to the Animation, Production and Technology, and Short Films Branches. In June of 2026, governors in these three branches will be elected for one-, two-, or three-year terms this year. Elections in 2027 will resume the standard protocols of one governor election per branch, with three-year terms.
Also to create the opportunity for more members to run for governor positions, the Board revised existing governor eligibility requirements to be more inclusive. Moving forward, all branch members who have served at least two years, at any time, on any Academy or Academy Foundation committee or as a chair or co-chair of an Affinity Group are eligible to run for a board seat.
Finally, the Board voted to amend a bylaw concerning the BEC term limit for former governors. Previously, former governors had no term limits for their BEC service. To promote new points of view and enhance member involvement, the new amendment states that governors may serve on their BECs for a maximum of six years after the completion of their governor service, whether consecutively or not.
Here is the full email to Academy members that Deadline obtained.
Dear Academy members,
We want to share some important Academy bylaws updates from our most recent Board of Governors meetings.
Given the existing bylaw that states the Academy president may serve up to four consecutive one-year terms in the role, the Board voted to allow a sitting Academy president to run for re-election until reaching this term limit even if they would normally be required to take a two-year hiatus after serving two governor terms.
The Board also approved a bylaws amendment that ensures equity in board representation among branches. As of the 2026-2027 Board year, all 19 Academy branches will each have three branch-elected governors, adding additional governors to the Animation, Production and Technology, and Short Films Branches. In June of 2026, governors in these three branches will be elected for one-, two-, or three-year terms this year. Elections in 2027 will resume the standard protocols of one governor election per branch, with three-year terms.
To create the opportunity for more members to run for governor positions, the Board revised existing governor eligibility requirements to be more inclusive. Moving forward, all branch members who have served at least two years, at any time, on any Academy or Academy Foundation committee or as a chair or co-chair of an Affinity Group are eligible to run for a board seat.
Additionally, the Board voted to amend a bylaw concerning the BEC term limit for former governors. Previously, former governors had no term limits for their BEC service. To promote new points of view and enhance member involvement, the new amendment states that governors may serve on their BECs for a maximum of six years after the completion of their governor service, whether consecutively or not.
A complete set of bylaws with more detail on these changes can be found on the member site. More information about the 2026-2027 Board of Governors and BEC elections will be shared after the Oscars. In the interim, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions at [email protected].
All our best,
Bill Kramer Lynette Howell Taylor Howard Rodman
CEO President Chair, Governance Committee
English (US) ·