Congress of Delegates

The Congress of Delegates is the policymaking body of the organization and elects the officers and directors who serve on the AAFP Board of Directors. Each chapter is represented at the Congress of Delegates by two delegates and two alternate delegates appointed by their chapter. Chapter presidents and executives also routinely attend the meeting.

The Congress meets annually, but updates on the Congress of Delegates' actions are available throughout the year. The annual Congress of Delegates meeting includes four sessions and reference committee hearings during which members in attendance discuss the resolutions being considered.

Resolutions

Resolutions are submitted to the Congress of Delegates via the following groups:

• Constituent Chapters
• AAFP Board of Directors
• National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL)
• National Congress of Family Medicine Residents (NCFMR)
• National Congress of Student Members (NCSM)
• Any member of the AAFP, as outlined in the standing rules

Resolutions must be submitted at least 40 days before the start of the Congress of Delegates. Resolutions not submitted 40 days in advance shall be considered late and will only be considered by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at the start of Congress. 

AAFP members can submit resolutions requesting their chapter or national organization act on issues they would like to see addressed. Resolutions are considered first at the chapter level. Chapter leadership determines whether resolutions should be submitted to the Congress of Delegates.

Once introduced, an assigned reference committee will first consider all resolutions, with an open hearing for all active AAFP members. Reference committee members then submit a written report of the hearing with recommendations to the floor of Congress for debate and action.

Delegates can take the following actions on resolutions:

• Adopt
• Not Adopt
• Adopt with Substitution
• Refer to the AAFP Board of Directors

Resolutions adopted, adopted with substitution, or referred to the AAFP Board of Directors are handled by staff, with the board determining the next appropriate action. 

Implementation

Once a resolution has been passed and finalized, it becomes part of the AAFP’s operational plan, where appropriate staff owners outline tactics that will be implemented to achieve the item(s) set forth in the resolution.