Don't Miss the Annual Business Meeting in Denver.

• Author: Ramsdell, Molly
• Position: SUMMIT 2022

What is the Annual Business Meeting?

NCSL's Annual Business Meeting, held on the final day of the Legislative Summit--mis year on Aug. 3--allows each state to weigh in on what's happening at NCSL. That includes the opportunity to vote on NCSL's budget and audit; the conference's positions on state-federal issues (i.e., policy directives and resolutions--more on that later); and the reports of the legislator and legislative staff nominating committees on the coming year's slate of officers and Executive Committee members.

* What are policy directives and resolutions?

Policy directives and resolutions are NCSL's positions on various state-federal issues. They define NCSL's advocacy efforts as the voice of state legislatures in Washington, D.C. Policy directives, which are reviewed every four years, are broad statements on specific issues. They are consistent with preserving state sovereignty and state flexibility and protection from unfunded federal mandates and unwarranted federal preemption. Resolutions are more targeted and bolster NCSL's positions on specific federal bills, regulations or actions. All policy directives and resolutions for consideration at the Annual Business Meeting have been approved by one of NCSL's eight standing committees with the required three-quarters supermajority.

If a policy directive or resolution passes out of a standing committee unanimously, it is placed on the consent calendar. If it receives at least one "no" vote, it is added to the debate calendar. All items on the consent calendar are considered en masse at the Annual Business Meeting. Items on the debate calendar are considered individually.

* Who are the members of the standing committees?

The standing committees are made up of legislators and legislative staff. Legislators are appointed by their respective presiding officers and legislative staff by their directors...