The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws was organized in 1892 to promote uniformity in state law, on all subjects where uniformity is desirable and practicable, by voluntary action of each state government. It is composed of Commissioners from each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The number, terms of appointment, and appointment process varies from state to state. In most cases an average of four Commissioners are appointed by the Governor or by the legislature, under express legislative authority, for three-year periods.

The membership is composed by lawyers, judges, legislators, and law school professors. All Commissioners are members of the bar. They are united in a permanent, state supported organization, under a constitution and by-laws, and meet annually immediately preceding the American Bar Association annual meeting. The record of the organization's activities, reports and approved Acts are printed in the Annual Proceedings.

The National Conference works through Standing and Special Committees. Proposals for Uniform Acts, received from many sources, are referred to the Standing Committee on Scope and Program which makes an investigation, and reports to the Executive Committee on whether the subject is appropriate for attention by the Conference, in keeping with specific criteria. If the conference decides to accept a subject, a Special Committee of Commissioners is appointed to prepare a series of drafts of an Act.

Tentative drafts are discussed and considered, section by section, by the entire Conference at no fewer than two Annual Meetings before the Conference may decide, by a vote of states, whether to promulgate the draft as a Uniform Act. Each Act is, thus subjected to the criticism, correction and recommendation of the Commissioners who represent the experience and judgment of a select body of lawyers chosen from every part of the United States.