National and state offices draw a lot of attention, but we cannot overlook the importance of positions at the local level and the direct influence they have on communities. The purpose of The Policy Circle Engagement Guides is to provide context and resources related to local level engagement opportunities, so you can have a say in what’s happening in your community, be an informed community member, and build your network and social fabric. This guide focuses on local boards, commissions, and committees, their role in the community and government, and what to consider if you are interested in being involved.
What are Boards and Commissions?
States, cities, and counties “appoint boards, commissions, task forces, and committees to advise their legislative bodies on a wide range of issues.” These can be permanent, often called “standing” committees, or “ad hoc,” meaning they were created to focus on a specific, often temporary issue. Boards, commissions, councils, and committees are most often created by law, or sometimes by executive order. There is little substantive difference in the specific name, although task forces tend to be more limited in duration. Examples of boards and commissions include medical boards, planning and zoning commissions, recycling boards, redistricting commissions, utility commissions, small business regulatory review boards, and tax appeals commissions. For examples of all the different board positions that exist, see these lists from Texas and the city of Delaware, Ohio.
Boards are often composed of citizens, government employees, and policy experts. In some cases, board members are required to be experts in the field, but most board members are not required to be licensed professionals in a field related to the board. For example, a medical board may require public members to review patient complaints about doctors; in this case, citizens who can consider consumer or patient interests are necessary, and medical professionals may have conflicts of interest.
Citizens can apply for open positions on boards and commissions. This usually requires a resume, interview, and background check. Private citizens often retain their positions in the private sector, but there may be conflict of interest questionnaires in addition to and financial disclosure statements. See these examples of application forms, from Texas and Denver, Colorado.
An office of appointments recommends appointees to the governor, and ensures boards function at full capacity. In most states, members are appointed by the governor, and some are also required to be confirmed by the state senate. Members usually serve 2, 4, or 6 year terms on standing committees. Some boards meet a few times a year, and some meet a few times a month, depending on the board and its responsibilities.
Why it Matters
Boards and commissions deal with essentially every public policy area; they handle enormous budgets, have judicial and regulatory responsibilities, and essentially oversee anything the state or local government does. Massachusetts has more than 700 boards and commissions, and New York City has over 300 boards and commissions. These boards provide “an in-depth examination of issues” to legislative bodies and serve as “a communication channel between elected officials and the community.”
Questions to Ask Yourself
- What needle do you want to move in your community – budget and taxes, education, infrastructure and utilities, healthcare, planning and zoning?
- What’s your background/experience? What are your skills? Is your LinkedIn profile up to date?
- How much time do you have to give?
Where to Start
- Measure:
- What boards, commissions, and committees exist in your city, county, or state?
- What boards, commissions, and committees have open positions?
- Identify:
- Does the governor appoint all board and commission members?
- Is state senate confirmation required?
- Who runs the Office of Appointments in your community?
- Reach out: Find allies and build community networks.
- Talk to community members to see their visions and understand their concerns.
- Plan: Set milestones, don’t try to do it all at once.
- When do board meetings take place?
- Execute:
- Plan to write an opinion piece in your local paper or share remarks at a local board meeting.
- Consider applying for an open position yourself. Think about why you would apply, what your passions are, and how you would make a difference.
- Boards and open positions will be listed on your state and municipality websites, such as these examples for Illinois, New Jersey, and Minnesota. On your state’s or municipality’s website, try searching for “Boards and Commissions,” or look for that as an option on a Government tab drop down menu. Alternatively, you can use a search engine to search {your state} or {your municipality} + boards and commissions.
- See these examples of application forms, from Texas and Denver, Colorado.
Additional Resources
- Watch The Policy Circle’s events explaining Boards and Commissions
- Ellen Troxlair of the Texas State Leadership Council, who served on the Austin City Council. discusses boards, commissions, and the appointment process with Peggy Venable, director of the appointments office for Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
- Indiana State Leadership Council members Amanda Muldoon, Katie Glick, and Lauren Hall discuss public board and commission appointments to learn how women can engage and take action on both the local and state levels with special guests Michael Nossett, Deputy General Counsel to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb; Senator Erin Houchin; and Representative Robin Shackleford.
Take Action, Influence Policy, and watch Leadership Videos, from The Policy Circle