Affiliated Bipartisan Founded 1908 | Chairperson Terry McAuliffe | |
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Executive Committee Headquarters 444 N. Capitol St., Ste. 267Washington, D.C. Similar Council of State Governments, United States Conferen, Thomas B Fordham Institute, Western Governors University, Bill & Melinda Gates Fo | ||
President trump stops by the national governors association meeting
The National Governors Association (NGA) is an organization consisting of the governors of the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. The NGA's role is to act as a collective voice for governors on matters of national policy, as well as allowing governors to share best practices and coordinate inter-state initiatives. The organization was founded in 1908 as the National Governors' Conference.
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History
In 1907, the Conference of Governors was felt necessary by the Inland Waterways Commission to provide both state and national views relating to practical questions dealing with natural resources utilization and management in the Progressive Era. The NGA represents the governors of the fifty U.S. states and five U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). It is funded primarily by state dues, federal grants and contracts, and private contributions.
NGA serves as a key public policy liaison between the state governments and the federal government. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and at the White House when discussing federal issues to developing policy reports on state programs and hosting networking seminars for state executive branch officials. The NGA Center for Best Practices focuses on state innovations and best practices on issues that range from education and health to technology, welfare reform, and the environment. NGA also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors.
NGA adopted a policy in 1977 formalizing its standard practice for many years: The position of NGA chair alternates yearly between Republican and Democratic governors, so that neither party can control the position for two consecutive years. The vice chair is usually of the opposite party to the chair, and generally assumes the role of chair the following year. The current NGA chair is Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, a Democrat. The vice chair is Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, a Republican.
Bill Clinton is, to date, the only former chair of the organization to become President of the United States. Janet Napolitano became the first female chair in 2006.
Chairs
Formally adopted as policy in 1977, chairs preside for a one-year term and alternate party affiliation, which means that the same party never serves for two terms in a row.