Before each ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, the ADEA Board of Directors appoints two Reference Committees. Most resolutions to be considered by the ADEA House of Delegates are referred to one of these committees:

• The ADEA Reference Committee on Association Administrative Affairs receives resolutions dealing with administrative, procedural and business affairs of the Association.
• The ADEA Reference Committee on Association Policy receives resolutions dealing with the policies and public positions of ADEA.

The Reference Committees hold hearings at the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, at which all individual members have an opportunity to discuss and debate the resolutions before they are considered by delegates at the Closing Session of the House. After their hearings, the Reference Committees write reports recommending specific actions on each resolution, and the reports are presented at the Closing Session of the House of Delegates.

Hearings are open to all Individual Members and other ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition participants. At the hearings there are opportunities to discuss and debate each resolution referred to the committee. Only ADEA members may speak; however, Reference Committee chairs have the authority to decide whether a nonmember may speak. A Reference Committee chair cannot permit motions or votes at hearings because Reference Committees are intended only to receive information and opinions. Further, a chair may not debate points, either at the hearing or the Closing Session of the ADEA HOD.

A Reference Committee must recommend action to the ADEA HOD on each resolution, even if there is no discussion at the hearing. If there is no discussion, a Reference Committee does not necessarily recommend approval of a resolution; it can recommend another action. Reference Committees have considerable authority—they may recommend the adoption of a resolution, the rejection of a resolution, to amend and adopt the amended resolution or refer the resolution to the ADEA Board of Directors for further study. Action on a resolution cannot be postponed beyond the close of that year’s House of Delegates.

Immediately following their hearings, the Reference Committees write reports recommending specific actions on each resolution. The report writing sessions are closed. Each committee should briefly explain its recommendations in its report, noting the reasons for agreement or disagreement with the original recommendations. These reports are presented at the Closing Session of the House.