The National Issues Forum (NIF) is where delegates explore national and global issues through a New Mexico lens. NIF delegates research national-level topics such as climate, technology, immigration, human rights, and public health, then craft solution-focused proposals explaining why these issues matter to New Mexico. The program blends big-picture thinking with meaningful, local impact.

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What Participants Do

NIF Delegates: 

• Select a national or international issue and identify its relevance to New Mexico.

• Research laws, policies, data, and current events to understand the issue deeply.

• Write a single-author proposal that includes a clear solution and a New Mexico Impact Statement.

• Present and defend their proposal, respond to questions, and refine their work based on feedback.

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The NIF process includes several structured stages:

• First Committees: Every proposal is presented, questioned, and debated in small groups, then ranked.

• Second Committees: Top proposals move on to the next level of committee, and are presented, questioned, and debated amongst a larger group of delegates, than ranked.

• NIF General Assembly: The top ranking proposals from 2nd Committees are debated by all NIF delegates for final consideration and awards.

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Leadership and Oversight

• The State Auditor, State Treasurer, and Commissioner of Public Lands oversee the NIF program and certify final results.

• Committee Chairs (who also serve as proposal authors) facilitate First and Second Committees and report rankings.

• All scoring follows a clear, published rubric focused on research quality, clarity, and the connection to New Mexico.

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Why Join the NIF?​

• You’re interested in big-picture issues and how they affect local communities.

• You enjoy research, writing, and structured discussion.

• You want experience with CONA-style proposals and constructive, rubric-based feedback.

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What Delegates Will Learn​

By participating in NIF, delegates will:

• Strengthen policy research and analytical writing skills.

• Learn to craft focused proposals with real-world relevance.

• Build confidence in public speaking, questioning, and civil discourse.

• Understand how national and global issues connect to New Mexico communities.