The CMA House of Delegates

The House of Delegates, CMA's legislative body, establishes the policies that govern the Association and elects CMA's president. The House convenes annually to debate and act on resolutions and reports dealing with myriad medical practice, public health and CMA governance issues. Policies adopted by the House are implemented by the Board of Trustees, which also deals with the many interim policy issues that arise between the Annual Sessions of the House.

The House of Delegates (HOD) consists of more than 400 delegates elected by members of component medical societies, specialty societies (such as the California ACP Specialty Delegation), CMA sections (organized medical staff section, young physician section, ethnic medical organization section, medical student section), the resident and fellows section and CMA mode of practice. Component medical societies, specialty societies and mode of practice forums are entitled to a number of delegates determined by a "proportionate representation" formula (for example, county medical societies are entitled to two delegates plus one additional delegate for each full 100 regular active members), while CMA sections are allotted a fixed number of delegates as specified in the CMA Bylaws. The California ACP is entitled to five delegates and five alternates to the HOD. Members of the Board of Trustees, past presidents of the association and members of the California Delegation to the American Medical Association also participate as ex officio members of the House.

The business of the HOD consists primarily of resolutions and recommendations submitted by the delegations that comprise the House or by individual members thereof. Each item of business is assigned to a "reference committee," consisting of six members of the House, which conducts a hearing to receive testimony for or against the proposal from other CMA members and delegates. The committee then formulates recommendations for action by the full House, which votes to adopt, reject, amend or refer (for further study or for decision by the Board of Trustees) each recommendation. The House of Delegates exemplifies CMA's truly democratic governance.

The California Chapter will be sending the following members as ACP Specialty Society Delegates to the HOD: Darin Latimore (CANO), Chester Choi and Susan Sprau (R1), George Sarka (R2) and Paul Speckart (R3). Randy Smart (CANO) will also be attending on behalf of CMA District 6 and Wayne Iverson (R3) will attend as an alternate for the California ACP Specialty Society Delegation.

Submitted by Natalie Kaczur, Executive Director
7-27-09


Page updated: 07-28-09

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