Policy Positions - CSG South

Guidelines for the Introduction, Consideration and Disposition of Proposed Policy Positions of the The Council of State Governments Southern Office at SLC Annual Meetings

Members of CSG South may wish to articulate specific positions, endorse specific policy practices, or comment on specific federal actions as they relate to the states. Such actions are permitted by the Rules of the Council of State Governments Southern Office and by these guidelines as maintained by the CSG South Executive Committee.

CSG South Policy Positions reflect a regional consensus not found in other parts of the country and give CSG South a voice in Washington and elsewhere on many issues of both regional and national urgency. Unless otherwise stipulated, all Policy Positions adopted by the Conference sunset the first day of the following Annual Meeting.

Introduction, Consideration, and Disposition of Proposed Policy Positions

Only legislator members of the Conference may submit a proposed policy position.
Proposed policy positions must address a single topic and be received by the Conference’s regional director not less than 21 calendar days prior to the first day of the Annual Meeting.
Proposed policy positions are assigned and disseminated to one of the Conference’s standing committees for review and action during the Annual Meeting.
Each of the Conference’s six standing committees may adopt one policy position during the Annual Meeting, unless permission to adopt more than one policy position is granted by the Executive Committee.
Legislator sponsor(s) of a proposed policy position, or their designated legislator proxy, must be present to support the proposed policy position when it is considered by the standing committee.
If approved by a Conference standing committee, the standing committee chair, or their designated legislator proxy, presents the policy position to the Executive Committee at the final Executive Committee session.

Proposed Policy Positions Criteria

Proposed Policy Positions should:

Have a regional and/or national focus;
Address a timely and pressing issue that affects a majority of CSG South member states;
Be directed toward Congress, the administration, federal courts, or state agencies and/or officials;
Be in response to pending or potential state or federal action;
Promote state sovereignty and protect the role of the states in our federal system; and
Take into consideration the actions and/or policies of other state and local government associations.

Required Format for Proposed Policy Positions

Proposed Policy Positions submitted for consideration by CSG South must contain the following information:

Background information and/or legislative history of the issue addressed by the proposed Policy Position.
Recommendation(s) detailing the primary points raised by the proposed Policy Position, directions for action on federal or state level, and instructions on intended recipients for communication of the proposed Policy Position.

Proposed Policy Positions also should follow the general formatting guidelines of:

Font: 11-point Times New Roman
Paragraph line spacing: 1.1 lines
Page margins: top 1” left 1” right 1” bottom 0.5”
Each proposed Policy Position must identify the legislative sponsor. This should be done on the bottom of the last page in 10-point Times New Roman.
Background and Recommendation(s) section headers must be CAPITALIZED.
Recommendation(s) must begin with identification of the organization as “The Council of State Governments Southern Office.”
Final paragraph of Recommendation(s) section must identify recipients in the same format as previously adopted Policy Positions.

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 2024 POLICY POSITIONS HAS PASSED. STAY TUNED FOR THE 2025 DEADLINE.

Please email Anne Brody, Director of Public Policy and Research, for more information or any questions.

Please see previously adopted CSG South Policy Positions below for clear examples of appropriate formatting for proposed Policy Positions.

Introduction, Consideration, and Disposition of Proposed Policy Positions

Proposed Policy Positions Criteria

Required Format for Proposed Policy Positions

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 2024 POLICY POSITIONS HAS PASSED. STAY TUNED FOR THE 2025 DEADLINE.

Charleston, South Carolina | July 11, 2023

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | July 12, 2022

Nashville, Tennessee | July 13, 2021

St. Louis, Missouri | July 22, 2018

Lexington, Kentucky | July 12, 2016

Savannah, Georgia | July 20, 2015

Little Rock, Arkansas | July 29, 2014

Mobile, Alabama | July 30, 2013

Charleston, West Virginia | August 01, 2012

Memphis, Tennessee | August 01, 2011

Charleston, South Carolina | August 01, 2010