The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), established in 1975, is a "nonpartisan public officials’ association composed of sitting state legislators" from the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States.
Background
According to their website, the mission of the Conference is:
to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation . . . especially in support of state sovereignty and state flexibility and protection from unfunded federal mandates and unwarranted federal preemption. The conference promotes cooperation between state legislatures in the U.S. and those in other countries. . . . ndis committed to improving the operations and management of state legislatures, and the effectiveness of legislators and legislative staff. NCSL also encourages the practice of high standards of conduct by legislators and legislative staff.
NCSL maintains an office in
Denver, Colorado
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
and
Washington, D.C.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Eight Standing Committees, composed of legislators and legislative staff appointed by the leadership of the legislatures, serve as the central organizing mechanism for NCSL members. Each Committee provides a means by which state legislators can share experience, information, and advice on a variety of state issues ranging from policy to management.
Committees meet together twice each year at the NCSL Capitol Forum and NCSL's Legislative Summit to adopt state-federal legislative policies that will ultimately guide NCSL's lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C. These committee meetings also serve as an opportunity for states to network and establish flows of information as well as experience-based suggestions from other states. In addition to the NCSL Capitol Forum and the Legislative Summit, NCSL builds the state legislative community by hosting various web seminars, leadership meetings, and access to relevant websites and online documents throughout the year.
Issues spanning multiple committee jurisdictions are managed by NCSL's Task Forces. Unlike the permanent Standing Committees, Task Forces are created for a specific period time and aim to develop positions on highly complex and controversial issues such as immigration reform and welfare. Task Forces are composed of 20 to 30 legislators and legislative staff who are appointed by the NCSL president or staff chair.
Day-to-day operations of the organization managed by its Chief Executive Officer, Tim Storey. The organization is led by a legislator who serves as its president and by a legislative staffer who serves as staff chair. Twenty years after its founding, NCSL was led in 1994 by its first female president, former Congresswoman
Karen McCarthy
Karen McCarthy (March 18, 1947 – October 5, 2010) was an American educator and politician. She served as the U.S. representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.
Early life
McCarthy was born in Haverhill, Massachuset ...
. Its first African-American president, Rep.
Dan Blue
Daniel Terry Blue Jr. (born April 18, 1949) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate district, and is the Senate minority leader.
Early life and education
Bl ...
, served in 1998–99. The 2021-22 president of NCSL is Representative
Scott Saiki
Scott K. Saiki (born July 17, 1964) is an American attorney and politician. Since 1994, he has served as a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the state's 26th district. He served as majority leader from 2013 to ...
of Hawaii, and the staff chair is J.J. Gentry of South Carolina. Each year, NCSL's presidency alternates between legislators of the Republican and Democratic parties.
The NCSL is considered part of the '
Big Seven', a group of organizations that represent local and state government in the United States.
Past NCSL presidents and staff chairs
* 2020-21 - Speaker
Scott Saiki
Scott K. Saiki (born July 17, 1964) is an American attorney and politician. Since 1994, he has served as a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the state's 26th district. He served as majority leader from 2013 to ...
and J.J. Gentry
* 2019–20 – Speaker
Robin Vos
Robin J. Vos (born July 5, 1968) is an American businessman and Republican politician and the 79th speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, serving in that role since 2013. He has been a member of the Assembly since 2005, representing most of t ...
and Martha Wigton
* 2018–19 – Senator
Toi Hutchinson
Toi Hutchinson (born May 20, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois Senate from 2009 to 2019, representing the 40th District. The 40th district includes all or parts of Bradley, Bourbonnais, Chicago Heights, Flossm ...
and Jon Heining
* 2017–18 – Senator
Deb Peters
Deb M. Peters (born October 11, 1974 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate from January 11, 2011 to January 2019. Peters served consecutively in the South Dakota Legi ...
and Chuck Truesdell
* 2016–17 – Senator
Michael Gronstal
Michael E. Gronstal (born January 29, 1950) is a former Iowa State Senator who represented the 8th district in the Iowa Senate. He served from 1985 to 2017 and was the majority leader and chairman of the Rules and Administration committee. He was ...
, Senator Dan Blue and Raul Burciaga
* 2015–16 – Senator
Curtis Bramble
Curtis Scott Bramble is an American politician and Certified Public Accountant serving as a member of the Utah State Senate, representing the state's 16th senate district in Provo.
Early life and career
Bramble was born and raised in Chicago, ...
and Karl Aro
* 2014–15 – Senator
Debbie Smith and Peggy Piety
* 2013–14 – Senator
Bruce Starr
Bruce Starr (born January 12, 1969) is an American politician and businessman in Oregon. A Republican, he served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives before winning election to the Oregon State Senate in 2002. There he joined his fat ...
and Tom Wright
* 2012–13 – Speaker
Terie Norelli
Terie Norelli is a Democratic former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving the Rockingham 16th District and later 26th District from 1996 through 2014. She served as Speaker of the House for six years, from 2006 to 201 ...
and Patsy Spaw
* 2011–12 – Senator
Stephen Morris and Michael Adams
* 2010–11 – Senator
Richard T. Moore and Tim Rice
* 2009–10 – Senator
Don Balfour and Nancy Cyr
* 2008–09 – Speaker
Joe Hackney
Joe Hackney (born September 23, 1945, in Chatham County, North Carolina) served for 16 terms (32 years) as a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the state's fifty-fourth House district, including constituents i ...
and Gary VanLandingham
* 2007–08 – Representative Donna Stone and Sharon Crouch Steidel
* 2006–07 – Senator
Leticia Van de Putte
Leticia Rosa Magdalena Aguilar Van de Putte
( San Miguel; born December 6, 1954)
is an American politician from San Antonio, Texas. She represented the 26th District in the Texas Senate from 1999–2015. From 1991 to 1999, Van de Putte was a me ...
and Steve Miller
* 2005–06 – Senator
Steve Rauschenberger
Steve Rauschenberger (born August 29, 1956) is an American politician who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1993 to 2007.
Early life
Steve Rauschenberger was born on August 29, 1956, ...
and Susan Clark Schaar
* 2004–05 – Delegate John Hurson and Jim Greenwalt
* 2003–04 – Speaker Martin Stephens and Max Arinder
* 2002–03 – Senator Angela Monson and Gary Olson
* 2001–02 – Senator
Steve Saland
Stephen M. Saland (born November 12, 1943) is an American attorney and politician. He was a Republican member of the New York State Senate, representing the 41st District from 1990 to 2012. Prior to his Senate tenure, Saland served in the New ...
and Ramona Kenady
* 2000–01 – Senator
Jim Costa
James Manuel Costa (born April 13, 1952) is an American politician serving as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for since 2023, previously representing the California's 20th congressional district, 20th congressio ...
and Diane Bolender
* 1999–00 – Representative
Paul Mannweiler
Paul Steven Mannweiler (born July 20, 1949) is an American politician and attorney who served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives serving from 1979 to 2001.
Education
He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University ...
and John B. Phelps
* 1998–99 – Representative
Dan Blue
Daniel Terry Blue Jr. (born April 18, 1949) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate district, and is the Senate minority leader.
Early life and education
Bl ...
and Tom Tedcastle
* 1997–98 – Senator
Richard Finan
Richard H. Finan (born August 16, 1934) is an American Republican politician who formerly served in the Ohio General Assembly. An attorney, Finan was initially elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1972, representing a suburban Cincinn ...
and Anne Walker
* 1996–97 – Representative Michael Box and Russell T. Larson
* 1995–96 – Senator James Lack and Alfred "Butch" Speer
* 1994–95 – Representative
Karen McCarthy
Karen McCarthy (March 18, 1947 – October 5, 2010) was an American educator and politician. She served as the U.S. representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.
Early life
McCarthy was born in Haverhill, Massachuset ...
, Representative
Jane L. Campbell
Jane Louise Campbell (born May 19, 1953) is an American politician who served as the 56th and first female Mayor of Cleveland, mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from January 1, 2002, to January 1, 2006.
Early life and education
Campbell was born on May ...
and Ted Terris
* 1993–94 – Senator Robert Connor and John Turcotte
* 1992–93 – Representative Arthur Hamilton and Donald Schneider
* 1991–92 – Senator Paul Bud Burke and Terry Anderson
* 1990–91 – Speaker John Martin and William Russell
* 1989–90 – Representative Lee Daniels and Patrick O'Donnell
* 1988–89 – Senator
Samuel B. Nunez Jr.
Samuel Bernard Nunez Jr., (January 27, 1930 – January 15, 2012), was a Louisiana politician and businessman from Chalmette, the seat of St. Bernard Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.
From 1964 to 1969, Nunez was a member of the Louisiana Hou ...
and Betty King
* 1987–88 – Senator
Ted L. Strickland and John Andreason
* 1986–87 – Representative
Irving J. Stolberg
Irving J. Stolberg (1936–2009) was an American academic and politician from Connecticut. He was the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1983–1984 and again in 1987–1988.
Early life and education
Irving J. Stolberg was b ...
and Sue Bauman
* 1985–86 – Senator David Nething and Dale Cattanach
* 1984–85 – Representative John Bragg and Leo Memmott
* 1983–84 – Senator
Miles Ferry
Miles "Cap" Ferry (September 22, 1932 – March 31, 2017) is an American former politician who was a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives and Utah State Senate. He attended Utah State University, earning a Bachelor of Science
...
and John Lattimer
* 1982–83 – Assemblyman
William F. Passannante and Joe Brown
* 1981–82 – Senator
Ross Doyen
Ross O. Doyen (October 1, 1926 – July 3, 2014) was an American rancher, farmer, and politician.
Born near Rice, Kansas, Doyan served in the United States Navy during World War II. Doyen received his bachelor's degree in agricultural engi ...
and Robert Smartt
* 1980–81 – Representative Richard Hodes and Patrick Flahaven
* 1979–80 – Speaker George Roberts and David Johnston
* 1978–79 – Senator
Jason Boe
Jason Douglas Boe (March 10, 1929 – March 20, 1990) was an American optometrist from Oregon. A native of California, he served as the 47th president of the Oregon State Senate. Prior to serving in the Senate he was a member of the Oregon House ...
and Arthur Palmer
* 1977–78 – Senator Fred Anderson and Robert Herman
* 1976–77 – Speaker
Martin Olav Sabo
Martin Olav Sabo (February 28, 1938 – March 13, 2016) was an American politician who served as United States Representative for , which includes Minneapolis; the district is one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota.
Early life and e ...
and McDowell Lee
* 1975–76 – Representative Tom Jensen and Bonnie Reese
* 1975 – Senator
Kevin B. Harrington
Kevin Brian Harrington (January 9, 1929 – November 27, 2008) was a Massachusetts politician who served as President of the Massachusetts State Senate.
Early life, education, and career
Harrington attended Saint Louis University on a basketball ...
and Eugene Farnum
Committees
NCSL has 8 standing committees whose membership consists of state legislators and staff:
*Budgets and Revenue
*Communications, Financial Services, and Interstate Commerce
*Education
*Health and Human Services
*Labor and Economic Development
*Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety
*Natural Resources and Infrastructure
*Redistricting and Elections
These committees establish policy positions and coordinate lobbying efforts in Washington DC.
Task forces
NCSL uses task forces to complement the work of the 8 standing committees. Composed of legislators and legislative staff, task forces are temporary and deal with issues that cut across the jurisdictions of multiple standing committees. Currently, there are 8 task forces:
*Agriculture
*Cybersecurity
*Energy Supply
*Immigration and the States
*Innovations in State Health Systems
*Insurance
*International Relations
*Military and Veterans Affairs
*State and Local Taxation
Policy positions
In the most general terms, NCSL works to enhance the role of states in the federal system. NCSL opposes unfunded federal mandates and federal preemption of state authority, providing state legislatures with the flexibility to implement policy solutions.
NCSL supports enactment of the
Main Street Fairness Act The Main Street Fairness Act (H.R. 5660) was a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives to "promote simplification and fairness in the administration and collection of sales and use taxes, and for other purposes." Specifically, ...
, which would simplify existing sales tax collection laws. The Act would grant states the authority to require all sellers, including online merchants, to collect sales and use taxes, generating billions of dollars of tax revenue for state governments.
Professional staff associations
The organization runs nine professional staff associations.
American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries
The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) was founded in 1943 to improve
legislative
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.
Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as p ...
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
, and to establish better communication between
clerk
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
and
secretaries
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...
throughout the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and its
territories
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...
. In 1974, ASLCS joined with several state legislative groups to form the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The society includes an active membership of more than four hundred principal
clerk
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
s, secretaries, and legislative support staff.
Publications and standards
ASLCS publishes several reference and resource books, including the Legislative Administrator, the
Professional Journal A professional magazine or professional journal is a periodical published by the governing body of a profession."Professional Magazines or Journals" iProfessional/Trade Journals Piedmont College, Library. The standard of quality of such a periodical ...
, the Roster and Reference Guide, the International Directory,
_International_relations
Additionally,_the_Joint_Canadian_Americans.html" "title="Mason's Manual
The Legislative Administrator is the official newsletter of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries.
Professional Journal
"The Journal" provides a forum to share experiences, expertise and opinions on a variety of subjects influencing our daily working environment.
International Directory
The International Directory is a booklet that provides a resource in English, Spanish and French of the objectives and goals of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS), Association of Chief Clerks of Mexico's State Legislatures and the Federal Dict of Mexico (ANOMAC), Association of Central American Legislative Clerks (ATELCA), the Canadian Clerks-at-the Table, South African Legislative Secretaries Association (SALSA), and the Australian Clerks. The booklet also contains the names, phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses of the Executive Committee members of the respective organizations.
Inside the Legislative Process
Inside the Legislative Process is a research tool, providing information on state legislative processes and procedures. The ASLCS committee on Inside the Legislative Process is responsible for reviewing and producing this publication. The committee works closely with NCSL staff to develop survey questions and record the responses in a format that is easily usable by all legislative units and reflects current legislative processes.
International relations
Additionally, the Joint Canadian Americans">Canadian-American
Canadian Americans is a term that can be applied to American citizens whose ancestry is wholly or partly Canadian, or citizens of either country that hold dual citizenship.
The term ''Canadian'' can mean a nationality or an ethnicity. Canadians ...
Clerks' Conference is held biennially in odd-numbered years. It is hosted alternately between Canada and the United States. Unlike other Society meetings, participation in this conference is limited to principal clerks and secretaries or to the principal assistant if the clerk or secretary is unable to attend. The meeting typically occurs in August or September. The location is determined by joint recommendation of the ASLCS Canadian/American Relations Committee and the Canadian Association of Clerks-at-the-Table.
Events
NCSL organizes two annual events for the general membership:
*NCSL Capitol Forum
*Legislative Summit (Annual Meeting)
The Legislative Summit is the largest of these events, partly because it occurs in the summer when state legislatures are in recess. Its location varies year to year. The NCSL Capitol Forum alternates between Washington D.C. and a location that varies year to year.
See also
* American Legislative Exchange Council, a similar organization of conservative legislators and private sector representatives
* Council of State Governments
* State Government Affairs Council
* State Innovation Exchange, an organization that produces model legislation from a progressive standpoint
*
State Policy Network
The State Policy Network (SPN) is a nonprofit organization that serves as a network for conservative and libertarian think tanks focusing on state-level policy in the United States. The network serves as a public policy clearinghouse and advises ...
, a consortium of conservative and libertarian state think tanks
*
Uniform Law Commission
The Uniform Law Commission (ULC), also called the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, is a non-profit, American unincorporated association. Established in 1892, the ULC aims to provide U.S. states (plus the District of Co ...
References
External links
www.ncsl.org
{{Authority control
Nonpartisan organizations in the United States
Government-related professional associations in the United States
1975 establishments in the United States
Organizations established in 1975