History
The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) was
founded in 1943 to improve legislative administration and to establish
better communication between clerks and secretaries throughout the United
States and its territories. In 1974, ASLCS joined with several state
legislative groups to form the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL). From small beginnings, the Society has grown to include an active
membership of over three hundred principal clerks and secretaries and
legislative support staff. Today, the Society is the most active of NCSL's
ten staff sections.
Purpose and Functions
ASLCS was created to provide an effective forum for solving
professional problems common to legislative clerical officers and their
staffs. Legislative clerks and secretaries and their staff members work in
a unique environment for which little formal training is available. ASLCS
works to fulfill these training needs. ASLCS training programs concentrate
on:
- Improving the administrative and parliamentary effectiveness of
state legislatures;
- Developing procedures for enhancing the lawmaking function;
- Improving the skills and professionalism of employees in the offices
of clerks and secretaries;
- Increasing understanding of the roles and relationships among
different staff activities and responsibilities; and
- Providing a forum in which clerks and secretaries can meet and learn
from one another.
One major accomplishment of the Society is the revision of the Mason's
Manual of Legislative Procedure. At the invitation of NCSL, a special
commission of ASLCS was established in 1984. The 1989 edition of Mason's
is the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in state
legislatures. The commission continues within the Society. Another revised
publication is planned at the end of the decade, based upon changes in
case law and parliamentary practice.
Membership and Operations
The Society's membership is made up of the elected or appointed
legislative clerks and secretaries in the 50 states and the possessions
and territories of the U.S.A. Associate members are legislative employees
designated by the principal clerks and secretaries from the personnel in
their offices. Any former member may maintain an associate level
membership. Associates make up the largest segment of the Society's
membership. The Society's operations are governed by its bylaws and
standing orders under the guidance of the Executive Committee, and most of
the work of the Society is done in committees. The Society meets four
times a year. The spring and winter meetings are working meetings for the
Society's standing committees and the Executive Committee. The summer
meeting is held in association with the NCSL Annual Meeting. Each fall,
the Society holds the ASLCS Annual Professional Development Seminar.
International Relations
ASLCS has supportive working relations with its counterparts in Canada
and Central America--the Association of Clerks-at-the-Table in Canada and
La Associaciode Technicos Legislativos CentroAmericanos (ATELCA), which
includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Panama. The Society currently is working to establish relations with
clerks of the Mexican states. | 
