1. Definitions and Generic Procedures

2. Terminology
Standards Action – A proposed or approved change to a C&S product (code, standard,, code case, guide). A proposed standards action is sometimes simply referred to as a proposal.
Record – The data page on CS-Connect related to a standards action. A record provides information such as tracking number, explanation, approval status. Record is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a Standards Action (“the record is approved and will be published in the next edition”).
You may hear or read “Standards Action” / “Proposal” / “Action” / “Record” used in casually to describe a proposed code change or the CS-Connect record (information) associated with the proposal.

3. Terminology
Ballot – A distribution of one or more proposed standards actions for voting and possibly approval by one or more committees. Each ballot has a unique tracking number, unrelated to the record tracking number.
Review & Comment– A distribution of one or more proposed standards actions for consideration by one or more committees. The objective of a Review & Comment distribution is not approval, instead, it is a request for comments that will help improve a proposal.
Simultaneous Review & Comment among multiple committees often speeds the consensus process by collecting input “in-parallel” rather than “in-series”.

4. ASME S&C Procedures and Policies
ASME Code committees operate according to accredited procedures
ASME is an Accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO).
ASME standards development procedures are carefully observed by ASME Staff and the standards development committees

5. ASME S&C Procedures and Policies
Both ASME and ANSI periodically audit committee proceedings to confirm procedures are obeyed.
The accredited procedures are available through a link on all committee web pages.
Most of the rules in ASME’s accredited procedures are intended for Standards Committees.

6. ASME S&C Procedures and Policies
Paragraph – Members shall comply with ASME Society Policies P-15.7, Ethics; P-15.8, Conflicts of Interest; P-14.6, Society Name, Seal, Emblem, Initials, Titles, Identification, and Certificates; and P-15.9, Policy Against Discrimination. Paragraph – [The Standards Committee Secretary] shall receive all documents relative to the committee proceedings, including Minutes and Agendas. Paragraph 5.1 – Subordinate groups should have representatives from the various interests whenever possible.

7. ASME S&C Procedures and Policies
Paragraph – Chairs of all other subordinate groups that do not report directly to the standards committee shall be appointed to specific terms not to exceed five years. Such appointments may be by the Chair of the standards committee or by the Chair of the group to which this subordinate groups directly reports. Renewal of these appointments shall be confirmed by the standards committee or subordinate group that made the original appointment by 2/3 vote. No more than two terms may be served.