The American Academy of Actuaries, also known as the Academy, is the body that represents and unites United States actuaries in all practice areas. Established in 1965, the Academy serves as the profession's voice on public policy and professionalism issues. Standards The Academy, in 1988, created the Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) as an independent entity, supported by AAA staff. The ASB serves as the single board promulgating standards of practice for the entire actuarial profession in the United States. The ASB was given sole authority to develop, obtain comment upon, revise, and adopt standards of practice for the actuarial profession. Membership requirements In order to sign statements of actuarial opinion, an American actuary must be a Member, American Academy of Actuaries (M.A.A.A.). The Academy membership requirements are: Membership in one of the following societies: Associate or Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Associate or Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. M.S.P.A. or F.S.P.A. in the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Conference of Consulting Actuaries. Enrolled Actuary status under Title 3, Section C of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Fellowship in the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. Fellowship in the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland. Fellowship in the Institute of Actuaries in Great Britain. Membership in the Colegio Nacional de Actuarios in Mexico. Fellowship in the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. Special approval by the Membership Committee and the executive committee of other actuarial educational credentials. A resident of the United States for at least three years, or a non-resident or new resident who meets the Academy's education requirements and can prove familiarity with U.S. laws and practices in his or her “actuarial practice area.” Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline The Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD) was formed to serve the academy and all other U.S. actuarial organizations. The ABCD considers complaints and questions concerning possible violations of the Code(s) of Professional Conduct. In addition, the ABCD responds to inquiries by actuaries concerning their professional conduct and, when requested to do so, provides guidance in professional matters. Public policy activities The Academy has published a number of issue briefs and monographs addressing public policy issues from an actuarial point of view. Because the Academy is non-partisan, it avoids taking specific policy positions in these publications. Most tend to discuss the fiscal and economic considerations as seen by actuaries. In many cases several policy alternatives