US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 3003

Commission membership

(a)

Selection and appointment of members

The Commission shall be composed of twenty-one members as follows:
(1)
Nine Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Five Members shall be selected from the majority party and four Members shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader of the House, from the minority party.
(2)
Nine Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. Five Members shall be selected from the majority party of the Senate, after consultation with the majority leader, and four Members shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, from the minority party.
(3)
One member of the Department of State appointed by the President of the United States.
(4)
One member of the Department of Defense appointed by the President of the United States.
(5)
One member of the Department of Commerce appointed by the President of the United States.
(b)

Commission Chairman and Cochairman

There shall be a Chairman and a Cochairman of the Commission.

(c)

Designation of Chairman

At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members as Chairman of the Commission. At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members as Chairman of the Commission.

(d)

Designation of Cochairman

At the beginning of each odd-numbered Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members as Cochairman of the Commission. At the beginning of each even-numbered Congress, the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members as Cochairman of the Commission.

Pub. L. 94–304, § 390 Stat. 661 Pub. L. 99–7, § 1(a)99 Stat. 18 (, , ; , (b), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 99–7, § 1(a)1985—Subsecs. (a), (b). , in amending section generally, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Commission shall be composed of fifteen members as follows:

“(1) Six Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Four members shall be selected from the majority party and two shall be selected, after consultation with the minority leader of the House, from the minority party. The Speaker shall designate one of the House Members as chairman.

“(2) Six Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. Four members shall be selected from the majority party and two shall be selected after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, from the minority party.

“(3) One member of the Department of State appointed by the President of the United States.

“(4) One member of the Defense Department appointed by the President of the United States.

“(5) One member of the Commerce Department appointed by the President of the United States.”

Pub. L. 99–7, § 1(b)Subsecs. (c), (d). , added subsecs. (c) and (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

section 1(a) of Pub. L. 99–7section 6(a) of Pub. L. 99–7section 3002 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

section 1(b) of Pub. L. 99–7section 6(b)(1) of Pub. L. 99–7section 3002 of this titleAmendment by effective on first day of 100th Congress (which convenes in January 1987), see , set out as a note under .

Designation of Chairman and Cochairman for Duration of 99th Congress

Pub. L. 99–7, § 1(c)99 Stat. 19

“On the effective date of this subsection [], the President of the Senate, on the recommendation of the majority leader, shall designate one of the Senate Members to serve as Chairman of the Commission for the duration of the Ninety-ninth Congress, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of the House Members to serve as Cochairman of the Commission for the duration of the Ninety-ninth Congress.”
, , , provided that: