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What is the National Issue Commission (NIC)?

The National Issues Commission (NIC) is a unique program that offers opportunities delegates (“commissioners”) to debate and research issues of national and/or international importance. The NIC’s primary objective is to prepare and consider each commissioners proposal.

In the NIC (National Issues Commission)…

Every delegate is a commissioner. As a commissioner, you are responsible for:

  • independently researching an issue of national or international importance (with assistance from staff and fellow commissioners) on a specific topic of your personal choice
  • writing a one-page proposal which relates to an area of national and/or international importance
  • preparing and delivering a two minute speech in favor of their proposal at your commission hearing. 

T&E II is an opportunity to “road-test” your proposal concept and prepare your debate presentation. In order to prepare for Sacramento, Commissioners will have the opportunity to attend various workshops.

Sacramento is a NIC conference, not a legislative session. The NIC uses a format where proposals are presented to commissions in four successive rounds (each of increasing size) at “Proposal  Hearings.” Commissions are led by a chair and initially composed of less than 20 delegate/commissioners.

During the Sacramento Conference…

  • Every commissioner will have several opportunities to speak.
  • Commissioners argue in favor of their own proposal and debate the merits and flaws of other commissioner’s proposals in four hearings of increasing size.
  • At the end of each round, commissioners will rank the proposals presented using specific criteria. The proposals that will advance to the next round are determined by each proposals composite score from these rankings.
  • In General Assembly (“GA” the fourth and final round) the top proposals are presented by their author to the entire NIC body and the proposal is passed or defeated.

Writing & Submitting a Proposal:

Each commissioner is required to write a proposal on a matter of national or international concern. Proposals are no-more than one page and consist of three sections. Proposals are due one week prior to T&E I via our online submission portal at (www.calymca.org/nic). 

Delegates cannot participate in the NIC program without their own original proposal.

All proposals must follow this format and be approved by their advisor before submission. Proposals must deal with laws or issues that are national or international in scope. It is mandatory that each delegate within each delegation write on a different topic. This will mean that a delegation with 5 assigned NIC delegates have 5 different proposal topics. Although, we encourage creativity and originality, delegates from other delegations may duplicate topics. 

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