Purpose of Resolutions (As stated in the 2009 HOD Manual)

Article IX. Resolutions

Section 1. Resolutions represent the principles, beliefs, and actions that the general membership of the NCSS, as represented in the House of Delegates, recommends to the NCSS Board of Directors. Resolutions may be introduced by NCSS members, the Steering Committee, the House, other House committees, NCSS committees, communities, affiliated councils, or associated groups. Seated delegates may submit resolutions on the floor of the House of Delegates in accordance with Article IX, Section 5.

The NCSS Board of Directors will acknowledge and respond to resolutions passed by the House of Delegates. The Board may refer these resolutions to appropriate committees for development into position statements or other appropriate action. House of Delegates resolutions may be reaffirmed, edited, amended, or withdrawn annually by the House upon the review and recommendation of the Resolutions Committee.

Section 2. Resolutions will be divided into five categories based on the intention of the proposed resolution:

a. resolutions on current or future business operations of NCSS.

b. resolutions on the nature of social studies education.

c. resolutions on issues in the fields of history and social science inquiry.

d. resolutions on social and political issues which are of concern to social studies educators but do not have direct impact on the nature of social studies education.

e. resolutions of courtesy and commendation.

Section 3. House of Delegates business will be considered in the following order:

a. constitutional amendments

b. resolutions:

01-1. on current or future business operations of NCSS.

02-1. on the nature of social studies education.

03-1. on issues in the fields of history and social science inquiry.

04-1. on social and political issues which are of concern to social studies educators but do not have a direct impact on the nature of social studies education.

05-1. of courtesy and commendation.

Section 4. Proposed resolutions will be submitted electronically to NCSS and must be e-mailed by the 2nd Monday in October. These proposals will be sent to affiliates prior to the annual conference and forwarded to the Chairs of the Steering and Resolutions Committees.

a. The originators and authors of resolutions are identified as sponsors. Sponsors include

individual NCSS members and/or member organizations as identified in Article IX,

Section 1, a. Sponsors will be acknowledged for each proposed resolution.

b. Co-sponsors are affiliated councils, associated groups, and/or communities who desire to formally support a resolution. Co-sponsorship must be submitted in writing by one of the following procedures:

1. electronically by the date identified for submission of resolutions in Article IX,

Section 4.

2. in person at the annual conference meetings and/or open hearings ofthe Resolutions Committee.

3. by the conclusion of the first session of the HOD annual business meeting. Written co-sponsorship should be submitted to the Resolutions Committee Chair or member of the Steering Committee.

Section 5. Resolutions not submitted electronically to the Resolutions Committee prior to or during the committee’s open hearings or meetings, may be submitted from the floor during the first session of the House of Delegates at the conclusion of the Resolutions Committee presentation. Following these procedures:

a. Two hundred and fifty hard copies and an electronic copy of the resolution shall be provided and distributed by the member, council representative, or committee proposing the resolution.

b. The resolution shall not be considered unless three-fourths (3/4) of the members of the Delegate Assembly vote to allow its submission for consideration.

c. If approved for consideration and following presentation and discussion, a majority vote of certified Delegates of the House is required for its passage.

Section 6. Proposed resolutions shall contain:

a. a rationale for bringing the resolution to the attention of the House of Delegates and a statement of action.

b. a statement which relates the resolution to the goals and purposes of NCSS.

c. a statement which relates the resolution to the professional interests of NCSS.

Section 7. Proposed resolutions shall not:

a. change the structure of NCSS.

b. bind NCSS to spend money.

Section 8. The House may adopt resolutions, but such resolutions are advisory in nature and because of the Articles of Incorporation for NCSS these resolutions may not bind nor become the official action of the NCSS unless the Board of Directors concurs. The Board of Directors is the legal body of NCSS.

Section 9. Tabled resolutions may be considered from year to year if the procedures from Article IX, Section 1 or Article IX, Section 5 are followed.

(For more information about the role of the House of Delegates in amending the Constitution, see “Article IV, Amendments,” copied below).

Article IV. Amendments:

This Constitution may be amended by one of the following procedures:

I. Initiation. An amendment may be proposed by a petition to the board of directors. To be valid, a petition must contain at least 50 signatures of current NCSS members. The signatories must be drawn from at least 5 states with a minimum of 5 members from each state represented. The petition must be received by the president and the executive director at least 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates at which action is requested. Upon receiving the petition, the executive director will determine whether the petition is valid with regard to requisite signatures of current members. The president, acting for the board of directors, will then direct the Steering Committee of the House of Delegates to include the amendment on the agenda for the next meeting of the House of Delegates.

Approval by the House of Delegates. The first stage of amendment approval is conditional upon action by the House of Delegates. Approval of the amendment requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Delegates voting during the annual business meeting of the House.

Approval by the Membership. If the House of Delegates approves the amendment, it is then submitted to the total NCSS membership through a mail ballot at the time of the annual election. To become effective, the amendment must be approved by a majority of NCSS members who vote on the amendment.

II. Initiation. An amendment may be proposed by a majority vote of the members of the House of Delegates voting at the annual business meeting of the House of Delegates.

Approval by the House of Delegates. An amendment must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Delegates voting during the annual business meeting following the meeting at which the amendment was proposed.

Approval by the Membership. If the House of Delegates approves the amendment, it is then submitted to the total NCSS membership through a mail ballot at the time of the annual election. To become effective, the amendment must be approved by a majority of NCSS members who vote on the amendment.