Federalization of Corporate Governance

Abstract

This chapter examines the federalization of corporate governance from both historical and contemporary perspectives. It addresses gaps in the corporate governance framework and recommends the implementation of improved standards on the federal levels. These recommendations focus on such timely matters as board of director composition, greater gender and racial diversity on corporate boards, employee representation on boards, adoption of director term limits, excessive executive compensation, the implementation of a more realistic definition of “independent director,” and shareholder access to a company’s proxy statement to nominate a specified number of directors. The chapter also posits that federal court invocation of state law principles to ascertain the parameters of the federal securities laws in the corporate governance sphere is misplaced in view of the entrenched federalization of corporate governance.