Standing committees are designated by the ACUS bylaws (section 302.3(a)). The Council delegated to the Chairman the authority to appoint ACUS members to the committees. The Council also agreed to authorize the Chairman, with the approval of the Council, to establish additional standing committees or rename, modify, or terminate any standing committee.
These standing committees are central to the adoption of ACUS recommendations. Each committee carefully considers and analyzes researchers' reports and drafts proposed recommendations. Although ACUS researchers often provide the initial draft of proposed recommendations, the committees ultimately develop the recommendations that are considered by the Assembly. The committees typically meet several times each year, depending on the stage that their assigned projects have reached.
Each ACUS member is asked to participate actively in one of the committees.
Each committee has an area of interest and activity, which ordinarily guides the assignment of particular projects among the committees. However, these areas are defined broadly, to allow the Chairman flexibility in assigning projects. The Chairman may also, with Council approval, appoint special committees as needed.
* In 2016, the Committee on Collaborative Governance was disbanded because of the high degree of overlap with other Conference committees. All members have been assigned to other committees. Projects and meetings associated with the Committee on Collaborative Governance remain available on the committee webpage.