Purposes and Origins of Committees
 
The NCTE Constitution provides for short-term general committees appointed by the Executive Committee to study issues, develop publications, make proposals, or carry on activities related to one or more levels of instruction.  Most of the Council's committees fall into this category.
 
Most frequently, committees result from deliberations of the Executive Committee, often triggered by suggestions from individual members or subgroups such as commissions or section committees.  Sometimes committees arise from ideas advanced at the Annual Business Meeting.  Sometimes joint committees are formed at the request of other associations to work on matters of mutual concern.
 
Also, any NCTE member, from a new student member to a past president, may see a job that needs to be done.  The job may be anything that contributes to the purposes of NCTE.  The member thinks a time-honored American thought:  "There ought to be a committee."  A letter is written to NCTE, the Executive Committee considers the request, and an NCTE committee may be formed.