ICMA / Priorities / Public Policy / Policy Committee

Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee

Good managers stay aware of and are able to analyze the impacts of federal and state policies on their local economies and communities. ICMA’s Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee (GAPC) members are your eyes and ears for navigating through these issues.


The Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee (GAPC) is ICMA's member-based committee tasked with reviewing current and proposed federal, and in some cases state, legislation for impacts on local governments. GAPC members are your eyes, ears, and early warning flag for these legislative policies, including fiscal policy, trade issues, taxes, unfunded mandates, homeland security, pensions and human services, infrastructure, and more.

The committee meets twice annually, once in the fall at the ICMA Annual Conference and again in the spring, in conjunction with the NLC and NACo legislative conferences. In addition, GAPC's five subcommittees conduct conference calls between meetings.

The Knowledge Network hosts the GAPC's online discussion group.

GAPC Leadership

Meet the 2011-2012 GAPC Leadership Team

The five subcommittees (issue-based work groups) are:

  • Administration and Finance
  • Planning and Community Development
  • Human Services
  • Public Safety and Emergency Management
  • Public Works

White Papers

ICMA's board has directed the committee to produce policy white papers each committee year, depending on ICMA resources available and topics needing a managerial perspective.  Final drafts are circulated to committee members and available to the membership and other Big 7 organizations.