The Legislative Assembly is the principal policy-making body of the Association and meets at least once a year in tandem with NCA’s annual convention. There is a full afternoon session the Wednesday before the convention begins and a shorter morning session on the Saturday of the convention. The LA may also meet via electronic means in a manner which allows for discussion.

Legislative Assembly terms begin on January 1 and are renewable as determined by individual Interest Groups. Each Interest Group establishes its own procedures for electing its representatives to the Legislative Assembly.

NCA’s governing documents provide for Interest Group representation on the NCA Legislative Assembly.

The number of representatives for each of the divisions and sections is calculated by the number of members of the group.

• Divisions and Sections with fewer than 500 members have 2 representatives.
• Divisions and Sections with 500-999 members have 3 representatives.
• Divisions and Sections with 1,000-1,499 members have 4 representatives.
• Divisions and Sections with 1,500 or more members have 5 representatives.
• Each Caucus has one representative.

The National Office takes an official membership count for each Interest Group during the first week in January.

As part of the bylaws, alternates or proxies are no longer permitted at the Legislative Assembly. However, “Vacancies among the representatives of Interest Groups, the four regional associations, the National States Advisory Council and the Association of Communication Administration Executive Committee may be filled in the same manner as the original representative was appointed” (Article 3, Section 5D). For example, if your group’s bylaws state the chair is also the group’s LA representative, and the chair cannot fulfill their LA member responsibilities or attend the annual LA meeting, the chair must resign as the position of chair and the newly elected chair may participate in the LA meeting. In short, a vacancy in the position must exist for an alternative person to represent your group; that person must be elected in the same manner as originally prescribed by your group’s bylaws.

All active NCA members (members with an up-to-date membership) may attend the LA meeting. If an LA representative cannot attend, the Interest Group chair can appoint another member of that interest group to attend the meeting as a non-voting representative. The person may attend the LA meeting, take notes, and represent the Interest Group. This person will not have voting rights at the meeting. Please contact Justin Danowski (jdanowski@natcom.org) if you have any questions.

NCA’s governing documents provide for one representative from each Interest Group on the NCA Nominating Committee. Each Interest Group establishes its own procedures for electing its representatives to the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee finds candidates for Second Vice President, Legislative Assembly, and Leadership Development Committee. Candidates for each position are selected by the Committee and added to the December election ballot.

NCA’s bylaws allow for one representative from each caucus on the NCA IDEA Council. Terms begin on January 1 and are renewable as determined by individual caucuses. Each caucus establishes its own procedures for electing its representative.

The IDEA Council is tasked with monitoring and making recommendations to enhance the diversity of the Association by, among other things, promoting the interests of the NCA Resolution on Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination, and the NCA Resolution on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Members of the council meet in person twice each year, once near Washington, DC in February (travel expenses covered by NCA) and once during the NCA Annual Convention. Throughout the year, the council convenes virtually and through email.

Click here to view a full roster of NCA Leadership.

Each Interest Group is provided funds as part of NCA’s annual operating budget. At the beginning of the calendar year, new budget allocations are applied depending upon the available pool of funds. Divisions and Sections are provided funds based on their relative membership size during the first week in January each year. Caucuses are given an equal amount dependent on available funds.

Funds from each year's budget are to be spent for activities during that calendar year and may not be carried over from one year to the next or used to pre-pay expenses for the next year.

Interest Groups typically expend financial resources for monetary award checks, award plaques, meeting supplies, newsletters, and food and beverage at the annual convention. Interest Groups are not permitted to use their resources for convention travel expenses, hotel costs, or membership dues for interest group officers or other members.

At the start of the year, Interest Group chairs will be informed of their budget and official membership count. A reminder will be emailed in July. Overspending the budget is not permitted, and reimbursement for amounts greater than the budgeted amount for the year will not be made (unless income for the Interest Group has been generated extra-budgetarily; see Fundraising section below).

To use budgeted funds, Interest Groups are asked to make purchases and then request reimbursement from NCA. Please complete the Universal Expense Reimbursement Form and allow three to four weeks for processing once reimbursement requests are received. Only the current Interest Group chair or another officer authorized by the chair may make reimbursement requests. Please submit reimbursement requests as soon as possible. Reimbursements cannot be made if a request is received two weeks after the close of the calendar year, December 31.

Funds may be used for award checks, which will be handed out at the annual convention in November. A check must be requested no later than September 25 using the Check Request Form.

Checks of $600 or more require the submission of an IRS W-9 form by the check payee, as per IRS requirements. The National Office will contact the recipient to request the proper tax form before the end of the year.

Interest Groups may use their budget to purchase food and beverage at the convention. Please email the convention team at convention@natcom.org with more information. The deadline to submit your food and beverage is September 25.

Interest Groups may not independently affiliate with other organizations. If an Interest Group would like to ask NCA to develop an affiliate relationship with another organization, please contact the NCA National Office at inbox@natcom.org for details about the affiliate application process.

Members of Interest Groups are not authorized signers of contracts on behalf of NCA. If contracting is required for an Interest Group activity, please contact Jennifer Fletcher (jfletcher@natcom.org).

All interest group fundraising is temporarily suspended until the National Office and NCA as an Association are re-registered to fundraise in all 50 states.

There is no detailed NCA policy outlining parameters for campaigning. The National Office expects any campaigning will be undertaken in a manner consistent with NCA’s Credo for Ethical Communication.

NCA does not provide any kind of financial support for campaign activities. This is a policy of the volunteer leadership of the Association. The National Office will not provide any materials to the candidates, including mailing labels and electronic mailing lists, and it will not arrange for space at the national convention for individual campaign events. The National Office will maintain neutrality in the election.

NCA encourages its interest groups to establish clear policies concerning campaigning for any NCA office.

The National Office can host your interest group election via our website. We can create a URL for you to distribute to the members of your interest group and the webpage. For more information about hosting your annual election online, contact Jennifer Fletcher at jfletcher@natcom.org.

Interest Groups may not independently make public statements. If an Interest Group would like to ask NCA to consider making a public statement on an issue, the standard resolutions process should be followed. Instructions for submitting a resolution proposal can be found here: www.natcom.org/publicstatementprocedures