LEGISLATIVE POLICIES
Background
The ABA House of Delegates (House) has ultimate authority for establishing Association policy. This policy-making body is composed of approximately 550 delegates who represent various groups within the ABA and legal profession as a whole.
Reports that recommend the adoption of specific policy positions are submitted by ABA sections, committees, affiliated organizations, state and local bar associations and individual ABA members for consideration by the House during the ABA Annual or Midyear Meeting. Each policy recommendation is debated and voted on by the House.
The Board of Governors is authorized, between meetings of the House, to consider new policy proposals that address matters requiring immediate attention.
Comprehensive Legislative Issues List
Recommendations and reports adopted as ABA Policy from 2003-07 are provided in the House of Delegate's Daily Journal publication.
The Legislative Issues list contains a brief description of the ABA's more than 1,000 current legislative and governmental policies. The entries provide succinct summaries of each policy and should not be construed as official statements. The ABA's official records, housed at the American Bar Center in Chicago, Illinois, are the primary source of authoritative information.
