Membership
The United States International Trade Commission (referred to in this subtitle as the “Commission”) shall be composed of six commissioners who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No person shall be eligible for appointment as a commissioner unless he is a citizen of the United States, and, in the judgment of the President, is possessed of qualifications requisite for developing expert knowledge of international trade problems and efficiency in administering the duties and functions of the Commission. A person who has served as a commissioner for more than 5 years (excluding service as a commissioner before ) shall not be eligible for reappointment as a commissioner. Not more than three of the commissioners shall be members of the same political party, and in making appointments members of different political parties shall be appointed alternately as nearly as may be practicable.
Terms of office
Chairman and vice chairman; quorum
Effect of divided vote in certain cases
Authorization of appropriations
Treatment of Commission under Paperwork Reduction Act
The Commission shall be considered to be an independent regulatory agency for purposes of chapter 35 of title 44.
June 17, 1930, ch. 49746 Stat. 696Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 34867 Stat. 472Pub. L. 93–618, title I88 Stat. 2009–2011Pub. L. 94–455, title XVIII, § 1801(a)90 Stat. 1762Pub. L. 95–10691 Stat. 867Pub. L. 95–43092 Stat. 1020Pub. L. 97–456, § 1(a)96 Stat. 2503Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 248(c)98 Stat. 2998Pub. L. 99–272, title XIII, § 13021100 Stat. 305Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9502101 Stat. 1330–380Pub. L. 100–418, title I102 Stat. 1240Pub. L. 100–647, title IX, § 9001(a)(15)102 Stat. 3808Pub. L. 101–207, § 2103 Stat. 1833Pub. L. 101–382, title I, § 101104 Stat. 633Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(1)105 Stat. 1280Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title III, § 371116 Stat. 991Pub. L. 108–429, title II, § 2004(a)(13)118 Stat. 2590(, title III, § 330, ; , title II, § 201, ; , §§ 172(a), (b), 175(b), , ; , (b), , ; , §§ 1, 2(a), , ; , , ; , , ; , title VII, § 701, , , 3043; , , ; , , ; , §§ 1401(b)(4), 1611, 1612, , , 1262; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (2), (c)(1), , ; , , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 2253(a) of this titleSection 203(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(4), is classified to .
Codification
Provisions of subsec. (c) which prescribed the annual basic compensation of the commissioners were omitted to conform to the provisions of the Executive Schedule. See sections 5314 and 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Prior Provisions
act Sept. 8, 1916, ch. 463, § 70039 Stat. 795Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , . That section was superseded by section 330 of act , comprising this section.
Amendments
Pub. L. 108–429Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(b)2004—Subsec. (e)(4). made technical correction to directory language of . See 2002 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(a)(1)2002—Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(i). , added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “$41,170,000 for fiscal year 1991.”
Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(a)(2)Subsec. (e)(2)(A)(ii). , added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: “$44,052,000 for fiscal year 1992.”
Pub. L. 107–210, § 371(b)Pub. L. 108–429Subsec. (e)(4). , as amended by , added par. (4).
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(c)(1)1991—Subsec. (c)(1). , inserted at end “If, as of the date on which a term begins under paragraph (2), the President has not designated the chairman of the Commission for such term, the Commissioner who, as of such date—
“(A) is a member of a different political party than the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term, and
“(B) has the longest period of continuous service as a commissioner,
shall serve as chairman of the Commission for the portion of such term preceding the date on which an individual designated by the President takes office as chairman.”
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(2)(A)Subsec. (c)(3)(A). , inserted “, or who has less than 1 year of continuous service as a commissioner as of the date such designation is being made” before the period.
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(1)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “The President may not designate as the chairman of the Commission for any term—
“(i) either of the two commissioners with the shortest period of service on the Commission as of the beginning date of the term of office for which the designation of chairman is to be made; or
“(ii) any commissioner who is a member of the political party of which the chairman of the Commission for the immediately preceding term is a member.”
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(2)(B)Subsec. (c)(3)(C). , inserted at end “Designation of a chairman under this subparagraph may be made without regard to the 1-year continuous service requirement under subparagraph (A).”
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(1)(B), struck out at end “Designation of a chairman under this subparagraph may be made without regard to the limitation set forth in subparagraph (A)(i).”
Pub. L. 101–3821990—Subsec. (e)(2). amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for necessary expenses (including the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and elsewhere) for fiscal year 1990 not to exceed $39,943,000; of which not to exceed $2,500 may be used, subject to approval by the Chairman of the Commission, for reception and entertainment expenses. No part of any sum that is appropriated under the authority of this paragraph may be used by the Commission for the making of any special study, investigation, or report that is requested by any agency of the executive branch unless that agency reimburses the Commission for the cost thereof.”
Pub. L. 101–2071989—Subsec. (e)(2). substituted “1990” for “1988” and “$39,943,000” for “$35,386,000”.
Pub. L. 100–6471988—Subsec. (c)(3)(A)(i). substituted “with the shortest period of service on” for “most recently appointed to”.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1611Pub. L. 100–647, which directed that subsec. (c)(A)(i) of this section be amended by substituting “with the shortest period of service on” for “most recently appointed to”, was probably intended to be an amendment to subsec. (c)(3)(A)(i). See amendment by above.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(A)Subsec. (d)(1)(A). , substituted “2252” for “2251”.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(i)Subsec. (d)(2). , (iii), in introductory provisions substituted “2252(b)” and “2252(e)(1)” for “2251” and “2251(d)(1)”, respectively.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(iv)section 2253 of this titleSubsec. (d)(2)(A). , substituted “” for “sections 2252 and 2253 of this title”.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(B)(iv)section 2254(a) of this titlesection 2253(b) of this titlesection 2253 of this titleSubsec. (d)(2)(B). , (v), in introductory provisions substituted “” for “” and, in cls. (i) and (ii), substituted “” for “sections 2252 and 2253 of this title”.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1401(b)(4)(C)section 2253(a) of this titlesection 2253(c)(1) of this titleSubsec. (d)(4). , substituted “” for “” and “section 203(a) of the Trade Act of 1974” for “section 203(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974”.
Pub. L. 100–418, § 1612Subsec. (f). , added subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 100–2031987—Subsec. (e)(2). substituted “for fiscal year 1988 not to exceed $35,386,000” for “fiscal year 1986 not to exceed $28,901,000”.
Pub. L. 99–2721986—Subsec. (e)(2). amended first sentence generally, substituting “for fiscal year 1986 not to exceed $28,901,000” for “for fiscal year 1985 not to exceed $28,410,000”.
Pub. L. 98–573, § 248(c)1984—Subsec. (d)(4). , substituted “the joint resolution described in such section 2192(a)(1)(A)” for “the concurrent resolution described in such section 2192”.
Pub. L. 98–573, § 701Subsec. (e)(2). , substituted authorization of appropriation of not more than $28,410,000 for fiscal year 1985 for necessary expenses, including the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and elsewhere for provision authorizing appropriation of not more than $19,737,000 for necessary expenses for fiscal year 1983, and inserted provision that not more than $2,500 may be used, subject to approval by the Chairman of the Commission, for reception and entertainment expenses.
Pub. L. 97–4561983—Subsec. (e)(2). substituted authorization of appropriation of not exceeding $19,737,000 for fiscal 1983 for authorization not exceeding $12,963,000 for fiscal 1979, and inserted provision relating to reimbursement by agencies of the executive branch for studies requested by them.
Pub. L. 95–4301978—Subsec. (e)(2). substituted provisions authorizing $12,963,000 to be appropriated for the necessary expenses of the Commission for fiscal year 1979 for provisions authorizing $11,522,000 to be appropriated for similar expenses for fiscal year 1978.
Pub. L. 95–106, § 2(a)1977—Subsec. (c). , inserted provisions in par. (1) for the Congressional notification of Presidential designations, substituted, in par. (2), provisions covering the expiration of terms of office after , for provisions covering the expiration of terms of office on and after , added par. (3), and redesignated as pars. (4) to (6) provisions formerly contained in par. (1).
Pub. L. 95–106, § 1Subsec. (e). , designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3).
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(a)1976—Subsec. (b). , inserted provisions that any commissioner may continue to serve as a commissioner after an expiration of his term of office until his successor is appointed and qualified.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(b)(2)Subsec. (d)(1). , substituted provisions relating to consideration by the President of determinations of the Commission as to whether increased imports of an article are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat or whether market disruption exists for provisions relating to consideration by the President of findings of the Commission in connection with any authority conferred upon the President by law to make changes in import restrictions.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1801(b)Subsec. (d)(2) to (5). , added pars. (2) to (4) and redesignated former par. (2) as (5).
Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(a)1975—Subsec. (a). , substituted “United States International Trade Commission” for “United States Tariff Commission” and inserted provision that a person who has served as a commissioner for more than five years (excluding service as a commissioner before ) shall not be eligible for reappointment as a commissioner.
Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(a)Subsec. (b). , lengthened the term of office from 6 years to 9 years for commissioners appointed after , and substituted , , , , , and , for , , , , , and , respectively, as the expiration dates for the terms of office of commissioners serving on .
Pub. L. 93–618, § 172(b)Subsec. (c). , designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted “Except as provided in paragraph (2),” before “The”, and added par. (2).
Pub. L. 93–618, § 175(b)Subsec. (e). , added subsec. (e).
1953—Subsec. (d). Act , added subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–210section 151 of Pub. L. 107–210section 2271 of this titleAmendment by applicable to petitions for certification filed under part 2 or 3 of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title on or after the date that is 90 days after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note preceding .
Effective Date of 1991 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(a)(3)105 Stat. 1280
Modification .—
year requirement 1-.—
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(c)(2)105 Stat. 1281
Effective Date of 1988 Amendments
Pub. L. 100–647section 9001(b) of Pub. L. 100–647section 58c of this titleAmendment by applicable as if such amendment took effect on , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1988 Amendments note under .
section 1401(b)(4) of Pub. L. 100–418section 1401(c) of Pub. L. 100–418section 2251 of this titleAmendment by effective , and applicable with respect to investigations initiated under part 1 (§ 2251 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title on or after that date, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
section 248(c) of Pub. L. 98–573Pub. L. 98–573section 1304 of this titleAmendment by effective on 15th day after , see section 214(a), (b) of , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–106, § 2(b)91 Stat. 868
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94–455, title XVIII, § 1801(c)90 Stat. 1763
Appointment of Chairman in 1992
Pub. L. 102–185, § 1(b)105 Stat. 1280