The Delegate Assembly of the
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics–FAQ
Q1. What is the Delegate Assembly?
A1. The Delegate Assembly is NCTM’s formal structure for Affiliates to make recommendations about mathematics education issues or Council operational issues.
Q2. When does it occur?
A2. The Delegate Assembly is held at every NCTM Annual Meeting and Exposition. The time and day may vary somewhat from year to year to try to accommodate as wide a variety of Affiliate officers as possible.
Q3. Who can participate?
A3. In January, the president and the NCTM representative of each Affiliate are invited to appoint one delegate and one alternate delegate to represent the Affiliate. Both can attend although only one person can vote. The delegate and alternate delegate positions must be held by current individual members of NCTM. Only Affiliates In Good Standing can participate in the Delegate Assembly.
Q4. What is the procedure for our Affiliate to have a proposed resolution be brought before the Assembly?
A4. Affiliates are sent a Call for Resolutions in the fall of each year. Proposed resolutions should be submitted to NCTM Affiliate Services by November 1. Affiliates are encouraged to work with their Affiliate Services Committee (ASC) Representative in submitting proposed resolutions to ensure that everything is in order. (See Q11 for an alternate procedure.)
Q5. What happens once the proposed resolution is submitted?
A5. Proposed resolutions are reviewed by the ASC. A proposed resolution can be referred (i.e., referred to another NCTM committee or to the Headquarters Office) or it can be presented to the Delegate Assembly. The ASC can also choose to return the proposed resolution to the Affiliate for more clarification. The deadline for submitting proposed resolutions to NCTM Affiliate Services is
November 1.
Q6. What happens when a proposed resolution is referred to an existing committee or to the Headquarters Office?
A6. Often topics or issues raised in proposed resolutions are currently under discussion or have already been addressed by some entity within NCTM (e.g., a committee, task force, or the NCTM Headquarters Office). Such proposed resolutions are referred to the appropriate Council entity for a response. Responses are sent to the submitting Affiliates and also to other Affiliates and officers of NCTM.
Q7. What happens when a proposed resolution is referred to the Delegate Assembly?
A7. This means that the topic/issue of the proposed resolution is either currently not being addressed by NCTM or the topic/issue deserves more attention. The delegates then have the opportunity to decide if further action is desired.
Q8. Why would a proposed resolution be returned to an Affiliate?
A8. If a proposed resolution is submitted that is not clear in its intent or rationale, the ASC returns the proposed resolution with questions and recommendations for improvement.
Q9. Can a proposed resolution that has been referred be brought to the floor of the Delegate Assembly?
A9. Yes, any proposed resolution can be brought to the floor if any Affiliate (not just the Affiliate who submitted the proposed resolution) is unhappy with the response, would like to suggest revisions to the proposed resolution, or would simply like to have the delegates vote on a particular issue.
Q10.Is there an opportunity for Affiliate leaders to discuss issues raised in proposed resolutions?
A10. Yes. Regional Caucuses are usually held prior to the official start of the Annual Meeting and Exposition, and always before the Delegate Assembly. Regional Caucuses are an opportunity for delegates and alternates to meet informally to discuss and revise current proposed resolutions. ASC representatives preside over these two-hour sessions and the NCTM Board of Directors can participate.
Q11.What happens if our Affiliate has a proposed resolution after the November 1 deadline?
A11. At most, one proposed resolution can be adopted by each caucus and presented to the Delegate Assembly. A resolution brought in this manner must be accompanied by a rationale and supporting evidence.
Q12.What happens to resolutions that are passed by the Delegate Assembly?
A12. (Following the Delegate Assembly, passed resolutions will be posted online in the Affiliate resources.) Resolutions that are passed are referred to the NCTM Board of Directors for consideration. The Board then acts on each resolution as it deems appropriate. Board actions will be posted online by September 30. Affiliate leaders will be notified through the AffiliateNews e-newsletter when actions have been posted. The Board’s actions on resolutions will also be printed in a fall issue of the NCTM News Bulletin. At the beginning of each Delegate Assembly, the NCTM President gives a briefing on the status of resolutions passed the previous year.
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