The National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) was established by the Federal Government in 1977 to provide a forum for the expression of Aboriginal views. On November 12, 1977 election of NAC members took place resulting in 35 elected representatives of electorates throughout Australia. A resolution from the Second National Conference in April, 1979 requested that a Treaty of Commitment be executed between the Aboriginal Nation and the Australian Government. The NAC decided that the agreement should have an Aboriginal name - the Makarrata - and set up a special committee to ask Aboriginals what they would like to see in the Makarrata.