Crafting Resolutions to Provide Guidance and Direction for NCSS

1. Crafting Resolutions to Provide Guidanceand Direction for NCSS Developed by Tina Heafner, NCSS 2008 HOD Steering Committee Chair Updated by NCSS Staff

2. What is the purpose of resolutions? 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.

3. Specifically, Resolutions… • Guide the current or future business operations of NCSS  • Provide direction on the nature of social studies education • Address issues in the fields of history and social science inquiry • Acknowledge 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

4. Since, Resolutions… • Provide direction to NCSS Board of Directors for current and future work of NCSS • Create a forum to express ideas, recommendations, issues and concerns relevant to NCSS and its work to promote quality teaching & learning of social studies • Consideration should be given to the existing goals and actions of NCSS • Consideration of timeframe of implementation: • Submission Deadlines Spring-Summer August 12; Fall October 11 • HOD Resolutions discussion and vote Nov. 12-13 • NCSS BOD discussion and vote March 2011.

5. Proposed resolutions cannot… • Change the structure of NCSS. • Bind NCSS to spend money.

6. Questions To Consider • What issues are impacting Social Studies educators at the local and/or state level? • What are the current and future goals of NCSS • Reference NCSS Strategic Plan • Reference NCSS Activities Overview • Advocacy and Visibility • Education and Knowledge • Membership • Engaged Citizenry • Social Studies Excellence

7. Questions To Consider, continued • What recommendations can be offered to support the organization/membership? • How can the actions of NCSS improve the teaching and learning of social studies? • Are there issues in my state or special interest group that are not represented? • Are there issues that NCSS is not effectively addressing that need more or modified action? • What do my constituents (state, committee members, affiliated group members, etc.) feel is important to social studies education?

8. Resolution Structure Title(excerpts from UN Resolutions Guidelines) • 1. Title – a concise description of the subject of your resolution. • A) What subject does your resolution deal with, this can be general or specific, i.e. Advocacy or ESEA reauthorization assessment recommendations • B) List resolution SPONSORS and CO-SPONSORS • SPONSORS—groups that created the resolution (State Council, Associated Group, Community); • CO-SPONSORS—groups that did not contribute to it but agree with it.

9. Structue of a Resolution—Preamble • Creates a basis for the resolution, it gives a history of the subject dealt with by the resolution, possibly includes previous resolutions and serves to bring everyone up to speed on the issue. • best to keep it no more than 5 or 6 phrases. • positive or negative in tone, but should be factual and not just an opinion.

10. Useful Preambulatory openings: • Affirming • Reaffirming • Deeply convinced • Keeping in mind Approving • Fully aware • Recognizing • Aware of • Deeply regretting • Guided by • Having examined Confident • Bearing in mind • Deeply Concerned • Fully alarmed • Having received • Alarmed • Fully believing • Recalling • Deeply disturbed • Further deploring • Noting with Regret • Declaring • Having studied • Having heard

11. Body • The working (main) part of a resolution. • Where the purpose of your resolution should be stated. • Words/wording should be chosen carefully to promote civil discussion rather than bitter discussion engendered by poor wording and/or political disagreement.

12. Useful Operative Clauses • Accepts • Confirms • Endorses • Regrets • Affirms • Considers • Further requests • Requests • Approves • Declares accordingly • Have resolved • Urges • Solemnly affirms • Further invites • Calls upon • Designates • Reaffirms • Takes note of • Condemns • Further reminds • Recommends • Encourages • Further recommends • Reminds

13. Consider all of the following when writing your resolutions: • In the preambulatory clauses, discuss the topic/issue’s history and other current issues regarding it • Reference previous NCSS actions and/or resolutions on the topic when possible • In the operative section include phrases that seek to solve the problem not just make statements • Do not use inflamatory language – you can get your group’s position through without criticizing opposing groups • Take into account the views of other groups whenever possible • Write the resolution from the social studies view, not just from its general view • Refer issues, if necessary to already existing bodies, i.e. DO NOT CREATE NEW BODIES • Do not duplicate existing NCSS resolutions, ongoing activities, etc. on an issue.

14. Review your work and consider: • How effective is the purpose of the resolution articulated? • Is the resolution clearly and concisely worded? • Does the resolution follow the appropriate format? • Rationale & Statement of Action • Statement relating to goals & purposes of NCSS • Statement relating to professional interests of NCSS • Does the resolution contain actions that are prohibited? • Change the structure of NCSS • Bind NCSS to spend money? • Is the resolution thoughtful and purposeful? • Does the resolution connect and extend the current goals of NCSS as outlined in the strategic plan? If so, how? • Has this or a similar resolution been considered before? • Does the resolution represent the interests of my state or special interest group?

15. A Well Written Example: Why? • 07-01-14. • NCSS TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LEGISLATIVE LIAISONS AT THE AFFILIATE LEVELS BY PROVIDING TRAINING AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE • Supported by: Colorado, California, Maryland, Oklahoma, Prince George’s County • Co-Sponsors: Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Texas • RATIONALE: The current National Council for the Social Studies body is in need of legislative liaisons who identify and monitor critical issues and engage in pro-active media and public relations in a timely manner as they relate to educational policy and programs that impact social studies education on the local, state and national levels. • WHEREAS: It is essential to have communication between NCSS and the state and local affiliates on critical issues to support the advancement of social studies as they relate to educational policies and; • WHEREAS: Training is essential to the creation of effective legislative liaisons; •  BE IT RESOLVED, NCSS should encourage and support the establishment of legislative liaisons at the affiliate levels who will monitor critical issues and engage in pro-active media and public relations in a timely manner as they relate to educational policy and programs that impact social studies education by providing training sessions for legislative liaisons at the annual conference facilitated by NCSS staff.

16. Next Steps • Collaborative Discourse • Brainstorm topics for consideration—Schedule a session, workshop or townhall meeting at your group’s annual meeting to gather topics/issues of concern that might be addressed through a resolution. • Small group development of resolutions—A core group of interested members that can begin drafting a resolution and communicating via e-mail or Google Docs (http://docs.google.com/demo/edit?id=scACmKeg8rDW0DO6C1OfpfLvZ#document) . • Group’s (Council, Associated Group, Community) Approval Process • Follow your group’s internal resolution vetting process.

17. Next Steps (continued) • Submit the resolution(s) electronically – by August 12th • Have your group’s official representatives submit the resolution to NCSS via the NCSS Leaders website: http://www.ncssleaders.org/HouseofDelegates/HodResolutionSubmissions2010 or via e-mail to kpekarek@ncss.org. • August 30th or 31st– Participate on our webinar to evaluate, debate, and finalize resolutions.

18. Submission & Review of Resolutions • August Resolutions • All resolutions debated and evaluated in August will be edited by the Resolutions Committee and then shared with all groups via e-mail in order to determine co-sponsors. • Official group representatives must inform NCSS (kpekared@ncss.org) electronically of their wish to co-sponsor a particular resolution by September 13th • These resolutions will not be discussed at the Thursday Leaders Program prior to the NCSS Annual Conference. • Fall Annual Meeting Resolutions • All resolutions developed during fall annual meetings must be submitted electronically by the 2nd Monday in October to NCSS (kpekarek@ncss.org). • Resolutions Workshop-Thursday Nov. 11 – Leaders Program • Fall resolutions will be evaluated during the Thursday afternoon Leaders Program resolutions session as time allows.

19. Additional Ways to Submit Resolutions • Any additional resolutions must be presented electronically to the NCSS House of Delegates Resolution Committee at the open hearings to be held prior to the 1st Session of the House of Delegates. • If resolutions have not been presented prior to the first session of the House of Delegates, there will be a call for additional resolutions to be introduced on the floor during Friday’s HOD session. • Procedures outlining requirements for resolutions introduced on the floor are outlined in Article IX of the NCSS House of Delegates manual.

20. Please Note • All resolutions will be reviewed and edited by the NCSS House of Delegates Resolutions Committee. • Finalized resolutions will be introduced before the House of Delegates at the NCSS Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, November 12-13, 2010.

21. Important Dates • July 14 or 15, 2010 (TBD) Legislative Update Webinar and relevant resolution info discussion • Submit resolutions electronically: • 2010 Summer -- August 12thand 2010 Fall – October 11th • August 30th or 31st, 2010 (TBD) webinar to evaluate, debate, and finalize Summer resolutions. • September 13, 2010resolution co-sponsorships due at NCSS office (kpekarek@ncss.org) • November 11, 2010 Resolutions Workshop during Thursday Leaders Program – only for Fall Resolutions as time allows. • November 12-13, 2010 Resolutions are discussed and voted on by HOD. • March 2011 – Resolutions passed by HOD are reviewed and voted on by NCSS Board of Directors. If approved by the BOD, they are implemented.