ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the behaviour of the trinational administrative bodies in order to make some inferences about the viability of the proposal for a community of law without major institutions that is on the agenda for reforming North American governance. It discusses the theory behind the committees and working groups (CWGs) and the ideals embodied within them. The chapter provides the results of research on the past and current status, activities, and dynamics of these largely invisible entities. The civil servants who staff North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) CWGs are drawn from a range of departments and agencies. Typically a member state will have between two and ten members representing its interests on any committee or working group. The activities of the Telecommunications Standards Subcommittee of the Committee on Standards-Related Measures illustrate this relationship. The subcommittee's membership consists of two to three government officials from each of the NAFTA states.
