Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP) Guiding Principles

1. CAPP will act on behalf of the whole of astronomy* to promote:

• federal policies that advance the field of astronomy
• the involvement of the community in advisory processes
• the priorities of the Decadal Surveys in astronomy & astrophysics, planetary sciences, and solar & space physics
• broad and diverse participation in the field of astronomy
• public understanding of astronomy
• the importance of effective STEM education
• scientific peer review
• processes involving community-based priority setting
• academic freedom
• open exchange of science information
• an understanding of the value of the astronomical sciences to the nation

2. CAPP will select tasks that:

• are appropriate to the AAS
• are of the broadest interest to the astronomical community
• align with existing priorities
• consider the balance of principles outlined above

3. In executing tasks, CAPP will

• communicate with and advise AAS leadership on policy issues
• communicate the importance of policy making to the AAS membership
• avoid positions on individual projects or special interests that alter established priorities
• avoid conflicts of interest
• do no harm

*The terms "astronomical sciences" and "astronomy" encompass a broad swath of the sciences including studies of the Sun, our Solar System, and the entire universe.