Legislative Assembly Review – November 20-23

NCA would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather for the 110th Annual Convention in New Orleans and Louisiana is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Choctaw, Houma, Chitimacha, Tunica, Biloxi, and Bulbancha people, past and present.

Choctaw [chaak·taa]
Houma [how·muh]
Chitimacha [chi·tee·maa·chuh]
Tunica [too·ni·kuh]
Biloxi [buh·luhk·see]
Bulbancha [bull-ban-chah]

NCA acknowledges that it has often gathered upon unceded lands and that those gatherings manifested the exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the grave harm that colonialism brought to these lands, in particular, the erasure of both Indigenous and African identities via slavery and racist laws that segregated all peoples into binary classifications of “white” and “black.” This acknowledgment demonstrates our commitment to beginning the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism.

For 2024, there are 181 LA slots, and as of November 6, 174 members have been confirmed.

Members representing two or more slots receive one vote.

The Legislative Assembly (LA) meets at least once a year at NCA’s Annual Convention. There is typically a four-hour afternoon session the day before the convention begins, and a two-hour morning session on the third day of the convention.

The business at the LA meeting is governed by NCA’s Bylaws, and its decisions are guided by NCA’s strategic plan. Per the NCA Bylaws, the Legislative Assembly meeting is governed by parliamentary procedure, and the following pages provide some relevant information in that regard.

There is always some standard introductory business that is addressed by the LA at the start of the meeting. Members of the LA also participate in elections of members of the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) and vote on a slate of candidates brought to the group by the LDC. In addition, each year members are invited to submit resolutions to the Resolutions Committee for ultimate consideration by the LA. If resolutions are submitted by the relevant deadline, they are put on the agenda for discussion by the LA at the annual meeting.

Process and format for submitting proposals

The Executive Committee asked each council/committee to review proposals and provide feedback prior to each EC meeting. The chair had the option to circulate a proposal to other council/committee members for comment. Chairs were also able to respond with comments, questions, and recommendations. Please note, a council/committee was not obligated to comment on each proposal.

All proposals to the EC and LA should include:

Summary  Strategic Priorities Fanancial Implications Recommendation Main Motion Exhibits Alternates (Proxies)

Specific language regarding proxies is not present in NCA’s Bylaws but does specify how a replacement can be established.

According to Article III, Section V(D), “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”.

For example, if a group’s bylaws stipulate that 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 their position as chair and the newly elected chair may participate in the LA meeting. In short, a vacancy in the position must exist for an alternate person to represent the group; that person must be elected in the same manner as originally prescribed by the group’s bylaws.

Everyone at NCA appreciates your willingness to serve on the Legislative Assembly and spend time working on the association’s business. You serve in a vital leadership role for NCA—thank you!

Legislative Assembly representatives shall sign the roll.

New agenda items that are not on the published agenda may only be considered after all other agenda items have been taken up and following a two-thirds vote to consider. Prior to such vote, the maker of a substantive motion may have up to two minutes to explain (not debate) the proposed motion to the body.

Motions derived from discussion items may be heard at the time of the discussion.

Other Standing Rules:

• Only Legislative Assembly members shall offer motions and vote.
• LA members must be signed in and in person to vote.
• The Executive Committee (EC) at an EC meeting following a convention and before the next annual convention shall review and approve the minutes of LA meetings. Copies of minutes reviewed by the EC shall be distributed to LA members serving at the next NCA convention.
• The Resolutions Committee may not change the substance of motions submitted to the committee without consent of the submitter.
• Each NCA member who offers a resolution shall have the right to explain their resolution to the Resolutions Committee.
• The Resolutions Committee may (1) endorse, (2) oppose, or (3) offer no recommendation regarding resolutions submitted to the committee.
• The presiding officer may invite the members and guests to consider a motion for a specified length of time informally. During such time, members will be recognized to speak and will be allowed additional opportunities at the discretion of the chair. When the set time expires, the chair may take a straw poll if no motion is offered for formal consideration.
• When recognized, delegates may speak for up to two minutes. Non-members of the LA may address the LA with the permission of the presiding officer.
• During debate on a motion, affirmative and negative sides will alternate speaking turns.
• No delegate may move the previous question (close debate) prior to an opportunity for one affirmative and one negative speech on a motion. Delegates shall state their name and the constituency represented prior to starting to speak. Motion forms shall be used for substantive motions and amendments and when requested by the presiding officer.

Summary

The Legislative Assembly approved the 2025 proposed budget for NCA.

Pursuant to the NCA Bylaws and NCA’s policies and procedures the National Office prepared the 2025 Budget Narrative and Summary of specific budgeted items located in detail in the exhibits section.

The 2025 budget summary reflects realistic and informed projections of both revenue and expenses for the coming year. The 2025 budget adheres to very conservative assumptions regarding likely revenues for the Association while also working to adjust expenses to accurately reflect anticipated needs and expectations. The budget was also constructed to reflect the Association’s actual, material operating revenues and expenses and removes from operating projections items and/or funds that do not factor into the operations, such as investment income and investment fees. This is consistent with the prior year’s budgeting. Lastly, the 2025 budget shows our investment reserve funding needed to fund the 2025 budget. NCA has used the investment reserves to supplement our anticipated operating loss for the organization for over 10 years.

Items for Review

• Budget Summary
• Budget Narrative 
• September 30, 2024 Financial Statements
• Auditor Communication Letter to the Board
• Audited December 31, 2023 Financial Statements

The LA approved the creation of the African Communication Division.

Proposal

NCA members can join the new Division in early January 2025.

The LA approved the creation of the Women of Color section

Proposal

NCA members can join the new Section in early January 2025.

The LA approved 32 affiliates who were up for renewal. Affiliate effective date is January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2029.

List of approved affiliates:

• American Debate Association
• American Forensic Association
• American Society for the History of Rhetoric
• Association for Business Communication
• Association for Communication Administration
• Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine
• Central States Communication Association
• Communication Association of Eurasian Researchers (CAER)
• Cross Examination Debate Association
• Eastern Communication Association
• Institute of General Semantics
• International Chinese Communication Association
• International Forensics Association
• International Listening Association
• Japan-U.S. Communication Association
• Kenneth Burke Society
• Korean American Communication Association
• Media Ecology Association
• National Federation of High School, Debate, & Theatre Association
• National Forensic Association
• National States Advisory Council
• New York State Communication Association
• Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide
• Religious Communication Association
• Rhetoric Society of America
• Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction
• South African Communication Association
• Southern States Communication Association
• The Association for Chinese Communication Studies
• Urban Communication Foundation
• Western States Communication Association
• World Communication Association

The LA elected two members of the body to serve on the Leadership Development Committee (LDC) for a two-year term.

The following LA members will serve on the LDC starting January 1, 2025.

• Melissa Harris
• Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter

The LA approved a slate of candidates to serve on NCA Councils, Committees, and Awards Selection Committees.

LDC Slate

Unless otherwise specified, all positions begin January 1, 2025.

The LA approved five resolutions that are currently active under NCA’s Public Statement Platform.

The Resolutions Committee reviewed each resolution and recommended revisions for LA consideration.

Resolutions under consideration:

Resolution Regarding State Legislative Limits on Diversity and Inclusion

• Proposed Changes
• Approved Statement

Credo for Ethical Communication

• Proposed Changes
• Approved Statement

Credo for Free and Responsible Communication in a Democratic Society

• Proposed Changes
• Approved Statement

High School Communication Education (Speaking, Listening, & Media Literacy) as a Graduation Requirement

• Proposed Changes
• Approved Statement

Policy on Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination

• Proposed Changes
• Approved Statement

The LA approved the Resolution Denouncing the Dehumanization of Palestinians and its Impacts.

View the statement