Uniform State Laws Commission

Uniform State Laws Commission in the United States

Background: the National Conference

As te United States expanded, the need for uniformity in state laws first appeared, and became increasingly urgent, in the field of commercial law. In 1892 the first formal step toward solving
the problem of diversity in the laws was taken when a convention, named the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, met in New York. During the first decade of the Conference’s existence, primary emphasis was placed on securing uniformity in the field of commercial law. It is in that field that the work of the Conference
has had the greatest measure of success.

Since its first meeting to 1951, the National Conference has promulgated a total of 108 Uniform and Model’ Acts (or Model laws), some of which have been withdrawn for reasons of obsolescence and changing conditions. “Model Acts” are promulgated where there is demand for an act covering the subject matter in a substantial number of states and where in the judgment of the Conference legislation tending toward uniformity where adopted would be helpful, even if not absolutely necessary.

The Conference published the annual “Hand Book of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and Proceedings,” which reported the discussions and actions taken at the Conference for each year.

There was also an independently printed work of some eleven volumes entitled “Uniform Laws Annotated” which sets out the text of each Act, with the notes of the Commissioners, and collects annotations to the Act for each state where it has been adopted.

In the history of the National Conference, In many cases, a statutory Commission on Uniform State Laws functioned in many U.S. States, and the members of the Commission served as representatives at the National Conference. In others, the representatives were appointed
informally by the governor of the State.

For many years, California, for example, has had a Commission on Uniform State Laws, and has been represented by delegates at the National Conference. The Commission was recognized by statute (GoVT. CODE §§ 10400-10433) in 1929, and since that time has consisted of three members appointed by the governor for four-year terms. By statute the state legislative counsel is an ex-officio non-voting member of the Commission.

Note: based on Victor R. Henley writing (1951)

Introduction to Uniform State Laws Commission

Resources

Further Reading


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