118th Congress having to Authorize Nomination Boards

[SAProspect]

Does anyone know anything about nomination boards having to be authorized at the start of each new Congress? My Congressional District has a new member (for which I know a vacancy currently exists as confirmed by multiple sources) and that Representative's Staff told me that they can't do anything because the new Congress has not authorized for that office to put together a nomination board. Does anyone have any knowledge of this and what typically happens when the vacancy goes unused?

 

[Academician]

A new member of Congress will have to 'set-up' their procedures for making nominations. As you know, a MOC can conduct the nomination process in any manner they decide. Most stick to a common 'recipe' including ACT/SAT scores, an essay, school transcripts, an interview, etc. The majority of MOCs use a nomination committee / board to assist with the nomination process, but it is not required. The members of this panel are usually all volunteers. Each MOC typically has a staff member that manages this process for the district or state. For the Class of 2028, your Representative has quite a bit of time to define and set-up the selection process for nominations. By the way, I have found that most MOCs keep the number of nominations slots fairly confidential, but they try to manage the process so that they have at least one appointment slot open for AFA, USMA and USNA each year. USMMA is a bit different.

 

[SAProspect]

A new member of Congress will have to 'set-up' their procedures for making nominations. As you know, a MOC can conduct the nomination process in any manner they decide. Most stick to a common 'recipe' including ACT/SAT scores, an essay, school transcripts, an interview, etc. The majority of MOCs use a nomination committee / board to assist with the nomination process, but it is not required. The members of this panel are usually all volunteers. Each MOC typically has a staff member that manages this process for the district or state. For the Class of 2028, your Representative has quite a bit of time to define and set-up the selection process for nominations. By the way, I have found that most MOCs keep the number of nominations slots fairly confidential, but they try to manage the process so that they have at least one appointment slot open for AFA, USMA and USNA each year. USMMA is a bit different.

I should add that I am mostly concerned about slots and for the Class of 2027. It is to my knowledge that my MOC has an open slot that has been unused. I am just unsure whether nomination boards have to be authorized and what would happen to that unused vacancy should it not be filled

 

[Academician]

The former MoC was responsible for the Class of 2027, not your new Representative. Although nominations were due on January 31, the former member should have submitted them in the December timeframe prior to their departure and the opening of the new Congress in early January.

 

[SAProspect]

I understand that. I do know, however, that the new MOC inherits the slate and can fill unused spots which is what I am talking about

 

[OldRetSWO]

I understand that. I do know, however, that the new MOC inherits the slate and can fill unused spots which is what I am talking about

We are past the due date for submissions for the Class of 27 so I'd expect that nothing can be done. I am curious though about why
you're so sure that there is an unused slot.
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Some posts above mentioned the Member of Congress having to "Authorize Procedures" but that is not really correct.
A Member of Congress can literally nominate candidates based on any criteria they wish and there is no requirement to
publicly state their criteria. They don't have to use a board or even their staffers, they could literally nominate the first
person who asks them if that's what they want to do. That said, most seem to take it seriously and the established
convention of advisory boards seems to be established in the vast majority of districts.

 

[NeverSayNever]

I understand that. I do know, however, that the new MOC inherits the slate and can fill unused spots which is what I am talking about

Since you have confirmed that a spot is unused from multiple sources AND been told by the MOCs staff that they aren't going to do anything about it for their stated reason, what are you proposing to do with new information?

 

[Capt MJ]

If a midshipman or cadet leaves an SA early, either voluntarily or involuntarily, that also takes the elected official’s head count below 5 appointees spread over 4 classes.
Next cycle they might do 2 slates, and have 2 appointees charged to them in that class. Or not.
These things happen.

 

[SAProspect]

Yes, all I am asking is if anyone can confirm and if that spot goes unused what happens to that spot?

 

[OldRetSWO]

Yes, all I am asking is if anyone can confirm and if that spot goes unused what happens to that spot?

Unused spots will be there for the next cycle.
I think that other people have tried to explain this to you but let me try again and I'll provide specific classes.

Lets say that during LAST academic year, district X had the following charged to them
Class of 2022 - 1 mid
Class of 2023 - 1 mid
Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid

Seeing that they were graduating the class of 22 1 mid, the district nominated 10 candidates and 1 was selected

So now this academic year it is

Class of 2023 - 1 mid
Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid
Class of 2026 - 1 mid

Seeing 1 graduating, normally the district would nominate 1 slate of up to 10 but for some reason, they did not nominate
anyone so the NEXT academic year would look like this

Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid
Class of 2026 - 1 mid
Class of 2027 - 0 mids

When they start to process nominations for the NEXT year (class of 28), one might think that they can nominate 3 slates but
that would maintain a "zero year" for Class of 31 and Congressional Offices generally work very hard to avoid doing that.
Even in the case of a congressman leaving through retirement or defeat, the vast majority seem to work to maintain the proper
level of at least 1 in each class.

 

[Capt MJ]

Unused spots will be there for the next cycle.
I think that other people have tried to explain this to you but let me try again and I'll provide specific classes.

Lets say that during LAST academic year, district X had the following charged to them
Class of 2022 - 1 mid
Class of 2023 - 1 mid
Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid

Seeing that they were graduating the class of 22 1 mid, the district nominated 10 candidates and 1 was selected

So now this academic year it is

Class of 2023 - 1 mid
Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid
Class of 2026 - 1 mid

Seeing 1 graduating, normally the district would nominate 1 slate of up to 10 but for some reason, they did not nominate
anyone so the NEXT academic year would look like this

Class of 2024 - 2 mids
Class of 2025 - 1 mid
Class of 2026 - 1 mid
Class of 2027 - 0 mids

When they start to process nominations for the NEXT year (class of 28), one might think that they can nominate 3 slates but
that would maintain a "zero year" for Class of 31 and Congressional Offices generally work very hard to avoid doing that.
Even in the case of a congressman leaving through retirement or defeat, the vast majority seem to work to maintain the proper
level of at least 1 in each class.

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