1. A dues paying member of the county or state organization may initiate a policy resolution at the county or state level depending on the protocol required by the state cattlemen's organization. Active individual members of NCBA may introduce policy at NCBA meetings.
2. Proposed policy must be introduced to the appropriate policy or joint committee that has purview on the issue being addressed. This proposed policy may be introduced by an affiliate organization, dues-based council, or individual active member. A dues-based council would be the livestock marketing council, allied industry council, or product council.
3. A committee must approve a proposed policy in order for it to be sent to NCBA's Board of Directors. Amendments or changes to the proposed policy are allowed within the committee deliberations. Committees are also responsible for reviewing existing policy.
4. Upon recommendation from an NCBA committee, a proposed policy would be presented to NCBA's Board of Directors. Amendments or changes to the proposed policy are allowed during BOD deliberations. NCBA's Board of Directors may reject, amend, or approve proposed policy by simple majority.
5. The Board of Directors may consider any proposed or existing policy rejected by a committee. A director may bring to the floor for consideration any rejected policy from a committee with a simple majority of the Board's approval. The Board may approve any rejected policy from a committee with a simple majority vote. The Board of Directors may not consider any existing or proposed policy that has not been considered by a committee.
6. The last step in the policy development process is for all members to have a voice on policy developed at the annual or summer meeting. Approved policy is sent to NCBA members in the issue of the National Cattlemen mailed following the Summer Business Meeting. Members are given 30 days to vote on each policy via mail.

A response requirement for each policy passed at the annual membership meeting is:

a. Response of a minimum of 20% of NCBA's membership;

b. Response of a minimum 20% of NCBA's membership from 4 out of 7 regions.

NCBA's membership is based upon active, paid members as of July 31 prior to the Summer Business Meeting. This response requirement establishes a quorum for the mail ballot response.

If these response requirements are met, a simple majority from those responding would negate a policy passed at the annual membership meeting.

Policy starts with the individual members and ends with the individual members.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Grassroots Representation Committee and Board of Directors Structure and Process

**National Cattlemen's Beef Association (hereby referred to as “the Association)

REPRESENTATION FOR STATE AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS

State Organizations earn Board representation and committee representation on each policy committee based on the following formula:

• States affiliates with less than 150,000 head of beef cattle: $5000 First Board Seat
• All other state affiliates: $10,000 First Board Seat
• Each additional Board seat: $35,000
• Seats are earned based on collective revenue from the affiliates respective organization fee and membership dues remitted.
• Affiliate members earn a seat on each policy committee for each board seat. Affiliate members may appoint one person to each Policy Committee.
• Association bylaws limit any one person to serving on only one policy or checkoff committee. This means that you cannot appoint NCBA Federation director from your state if they have already been appointed to a committee by the members they represent.
• Committee terms begin with convention and run through summer business meetings so they are consistent with NCBA’s planning and budgeting cycle.
• NCBA affiliates are eligible to appoint members to NCBA Policy Committees. Appointments must be active NCBA members.   

 NOMINATING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Joint Industry Nominating Advisory Committee is composed of:

• Seven of the Association’s Policy Division directors, or former directors
• Seven of the Association’s Federation Division directors, or former directors

A. Nominating Advisory Committee Appointment Processes

The persons appointed to the Joint Industry Nominating Advisory Committee from each Division shall come from each of the seven regions.

• In each of the seven regions the State Beef Councils will elect one Federation Division director, or former director.
• In each of the seven regions the Policy Division affiliates will elect one Policy Division director, or former director.

From their seven members, the Association Coordinating Chair (the Association Past President, unless Past President is unable to fulfill duties) will designate a Committee Co-Chair for each committee section. In addition, the Association President shall appoint an overall Coordinating Chairman of the Committee (non-voting). This Coordinating Chairman shall be the Immediate Past President of the Association, or such other qualified person if the Immediate Past President cannot serve. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Composition of Executive Committee

• President, President-Elect, Vice President and Immediate Past President.
• Seven Policy Division regional vice presidents elected by the policy division affiliates in each of the seven regions, plus its elected chair and vice chair
• Seven Federation Division regional vice presidents elected by the state beef councils in each of the seven regions, one veal director elected by the Federation Board, plus its elected chair and vice chair
• Affiliate Policy section seats (based on state investment level.)
• Affiliate Federation section seats (based on state investment level.)
• Ex-Officio non-voting members:

• NCBA Treasurer
• State Affiliate Executive Representative
• Beef Council Executive Representative
• Allied Industry Council Chair
• Product Council Chair
• Public Lands Council Chairman
• PAC Chairman
• Livestock Marketing Council Chair
• ANCW President

Please contact the Governance team with any questions you may have at [email protected]