National Conference of State Legislatures
Encyclopedia
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan
non-governmental organization
(NGO) established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States
(states, commonwealths, and territories). NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system. It has three objectives: to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures; to promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures; and to ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.
All state legislators and staff members are automatically members of NCSL. NCSL provides research, publications, and networking opportunities to aid, train, and serve its members in a wide variety of ways.
NCSL is the premier legislative organization in the country and maintains relationships with the smaller policy organizations like the Council for State Governments (CSG). CSG representatives sit on NCSL's Executive Committee and NCSL representatives sit on CSG's Executive Committee and Governing Board.
NCSL maintains two offices: one in Denver
and the other in Washington, D.C.
.
Day-to-day operations of the organization are in the hands of its Executive Director, William T. Pound. 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
. Its first African-American President, Rep. Daniel T. Blue, served in 1998-99. Currently, the 2011-2012 President of NCSL is Sen. Stephen Morris of Kansas, and the Staff Chair is Michael Adams. Each year, NCSL’s presidency alternates between legislators of the Republican and Democratic parties.
These committees establish policy positions and coordinate lobbying efforts in Washington DC.
NCSL supports enactment of the Main Street Fairness Act
, 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.
The full list of NCSL policy positions can be found here.
The Spring Forum is always held in Washington, D.C., whereas the other two events are held in major cities throughout the US. The Legislative Summit is the largest of these events, partly because it occurs in the summer when state legislatures are in recess.
In addition, NCSL sponsors many programs and exchanges.
Bipartisanship
Bipartisanship is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system such as the United States, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. The adjective bipartisan can refer to any bill, act, resolution, or other political act in which both of the...
non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(states, commonwealths, and territories). NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system. It has three objectives: to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures; to promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures; and to ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.
All state legislators and staff members are automatically members of NCSL. NCSL provides research, publications, and networking opportunities to aid, train, and serve its members in a wide variety of ways.
NCSL is the premier legislative organization in the country and maintains relationships with the smaller policy organizations like the Council for State Governments (CSG). CSG representatives sit on NCSL's Executive Committee and NCSL representatives sit on CSG's Executive Committee and Governing Board.
NCSL maintains two offices: one in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and the other in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Day-to-day operations of the organization are in the hands of its Executive Director, William T. Pound. 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
Karen McCarthy was a Missouri politician. She served as the U.S. Representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.-Early life:...
. Its first African-American President, Rep. Daniel T. Blue, served in 1998-99. Currently, the 2011-2012 President of NCSL is Sen. Stephen Morris of Kansas, and the Staff Chair is Michael Adams. Each year, NCSL’s presidency alternates between legislators of the Republican and Democratic parties.
Past NCSL Presidents and Staff Chairs
- 2010-11 - Senator Richard Moore and Tim Rice
- 2009-10 - Senator Don Balfour and Nancy Cyr
- 2008-09 - Representative Joe Hackney and Gary VanLandingham
- 2007-08 - Delegate Donna Stone
- 2006-07 - Senator Leticia Van de Putte and Steve Miller
- 2005-06 - Senator Steve RauschenbergerSteve RauschenbergerSteve Rauschenberger served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1993 to 2007. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1992...
and Susan Clark Schaar - 2004-05 - Delegate John Hurson
- 2003-04 - Speaker Martin Stephens
- 2002-03 - Senator Angela Monson
- 2001-02 - Senator Steve SalandStephen SalandStephen M. Saland is an American attorney and politician. He is currently a Republican member of the New York State Senate, representing the 41st District since 1990...
- 2000-01 - Senator Jim Costa
- 1999-00 - Representative Paul Mannweiler
- 1998-99 - Representative Daniel T. Blue, Jr.Daniel T. Blue, Jr.Daniel Terry 'Dan' Blue, Jr. is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate district since his appointment in 2009. He previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1981 through 2002 and from 2006 through his 2009 Senate appointment...
- 1997-98 - Senator Richard Finan
- 1996-97 - Representative Michael Box
- 1995-96 - Senator James Lack
- 1995 - Representative Jane L. CampbellJane L. CampbellJane Louise Campbell, is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 56th and first female mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2006.-Personal details:...
- 1994 - Representative Karen McCarthyKaren McCarthyKaren McCarthy was a Missouri politician. She served as the U.S. Representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.-Early life:...
- 1992-93 - Representative Arthur Hamilton
Committees
NCSL has 12 standing committees whose membership consists of state legislators and staff:- Agriculture and Energy
- Budgets and Revenue
- Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human Services and Welfare
- Labor and Economic Development
- Law and Criminal Justice
- Legislative Effectiveness
- Redistricting and Elections
- Transportation
These committees establish policy positions and coordinate lobbying efforts in Washington DC.
Task Forces
NCSL uses task forces to complement the work of the 12 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:- Energy Supply
- Federal Health Reform Implementation
- Federal Deficit Reduction
- Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
- Immigration and the States
- International Relations
- Military and Veterans Affairs
- State and Local Taxation of Communications and Electronic Commerce
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 innovative policy solutions.NCSL supports enactment of the Main Street Fairness Act
Main Street Fairness Act
The Main Street Fairness Act, formally known as H.R. 5660, is a bill before the United States Congress which would "promote simplification and fairness in the administration and collection of sales and use taxes, and for other purposes." Proponents say that it will create billions of dollars in...
, 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.
The full list of NCSL policy positions can be found here.
Annual Events
NCSL organizes three annual events for the general membership:- Fall Forum
- Spring Forum
- Legislative Summit (Annual Meeting)
The Spring Forum is always held in Washington, D.C., whereas the other two events are held in major cities throughout the US. The Legislative Summit is the largest of these events, partly because it occurs in the summer when state legislatures are in recess.
In addition, NCSL sponsors many programs and exchanges.