• Mission & Governance
• Services Overview
• How to Get Involved
• Standing Committees
• NCSL Foundation

• Issue Areas: A-Z
• State-Federal Relations
• NCSL Standing Committees
• News from D.C. and the States

• About State Legislatures
• Elections, Campaigns & Redistricting
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory
• Web Sites

• Online Guide to NCSL Services
• Staff Sections and Networks
• Meetings & Professional Development
• Staff Directories

• Meetings Calendar
• Online Registration
• Meetings Home Page
• Legislative Summit

• Bookstore
• State Legislatures Magazine
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory

Legislative Effectiveness Committee

Committee Officer Planning Meeting

The officers of the Legislative Effectiveness Committee of NCSL met on September 29, 2006, and provided some initial planning for committee activities in the coming year.

Committee Themes for 2006-7

Making the Case for the Legislature
Legislative Training
Serving Constituents
Legislative Leadership in Crisis

Comments on the Themes

Theme 1: Making the Case for the Legislature

Legislatures need to adequately fund their own appropriations to be effective in their work

Continuing need to protect legislative powers against executive and judicial encroachment

Integrity and ethics issues are fundamental in asserting legislative power

Support the work of the Trust for Representative Democracy

Defend the important role of debate in our system

Explore media coverage of the legislature

Theme 2: Legislative Training

Helping legislators move from the “euphoria of the winner’s circle” to “what’s next?”

Create an integrated system of training for legislators and staff where training reflects the key knowledge, skills and abilities applicable to their jobs

What is the best timing for training?

Who should provide legislative training?

Theme 3: Serving Constituents

Trends

Best practices

Changing roles for legislators and staff

Theme 4: Legislative Leadership in Crisis

All types of crisis recently: natural, fiscal, terrorist and ethical

This has become an ongoing issue

What additional leadership concerns occur in term-limited states

How do we prepare our leaders to lead?

Possible Fall Forum Sessions

Starting on the Right Foot: New Member Orientation

Best practices

Lessons learned

What needs to change?

How Can Legislatures Stay Strong with Term Limits?

How can leaders lead without significant legislative experience?

What role can former members and current staff and lobbyists play in strengthening the legislature?

How does your training need to change?

Excellent Constituent Service

What service do your constituents expect?

Maintaining the right attitude

Getting your staff on your page

Responding to demographic changes

Possible Future Sessions

The Value of Legislative Debate

What Makes a Legislative Caucus Effective?

Where’s the Good News? (media session at annual meeting)

Humor in the Legislature

Good Staff Work