Serve as a Chapter or Constituency Delegate/Alternate
Detailed information about the responsibilities of COD delegates and alternates is available in the orientation manual.
Chapter Representatives
Two delegates and two alternates are elected by each AAFP chapter to serve as official representatives to the COD. They must be active members in good standing. Chapter delegates are elected in accordance with the chapter's policies and/or bylaws. Contact your chapter for more information.
Delegates Role
Delegates to the COD are eligible to do the following:
- Serve on and testify in hearings of the five reference committees: Advocacy, Education, Health of the Public and Science, Organization and Finance, and Practice Enhancement
- Vote on resolutions in the business session
- Vote in the elections
- Be appointed to other COD committees by the speaker
In addition, two delegates are invited to serve as sergeants-at-arms during the COD.
Alternates' Role
Two delegates and two alternates from the AAFP's medical student constituency are elected by the National Conference of Medical Students (NCSM) to serve as official representatives to the COD. Medical student delegates and alternates are elected for a term of two years.
Two delegates and two alternates from the AAFP's family medicine resident constituency are elected by the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents (NCFMR) to serve as official representatives to the COD. Resident delegates and alternates are elected for a term of two years.
Two new physician delegates and two new physician alternates are elected by the National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) to serve as representatives from the New Physicians Constituency to the COD. New physician delegates and alternates must be active members in good standing. The new physicians delegates and alternates are elected for a term of two years. Contact Stacy Wymer for more information.
In addition to the delegates and alternates from the New Physician Constituency, six delegates and six alternate from the other constituencies represented at the National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) are elected to serve as official representatives to the COD. Member constituency delegates and alternates are active members in good standing. They are elected for a term of two years. Contact Stacy Wymer for more information.
COD Committees
- Bylaws Workgroup - Reviews proposed bylaws amendments that are coming before the COD for a vote
- Credentials Committee - Handles credentialing of delegates and alternates, and ensures that only the officially elected delegates are seated in the COD
- Reference Committees - Hears business items/resolutions referred to them and report their recommended action for each item to the COD for vote
- Rules Committee - Meets by conference call prior to the COD meeting to review the Standing Rules of the Congress of Delegates; may make recommendations for revisions
- Tellers Committee (composed of alternates) - Handles distribution of materials to delegates during COD sessions, counts votes when voice votes are not clear, and monitors the balloting/voting process during elections