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• Federation of American Scientists

Summary

Over the past several decades, Congress, by statute, has established a wide array of commissions, boards, and advisory bodies to provide assistance in meeting various legislative, investigative, and administrative responsibilities. These entities are generally temporary and created to serve specific functions, such as studying a discreet policy area or performing one-time or recurring administrative tasks. The majority of these congressional bodies provide that Members of Congress, particularly the leadership, be intimately involved in the appointment process, either through direct service on a commission, or by appointing or recommending candidates for membership. This compilation examines the range of alternative membership appointment schemes exhibited by more than 75 such bodies currently in existence. The choice of any particular mechanism for membership designation has implications that may have an impact on the ability of these entities to fulfill their congressional mandates. Examination of the statutory language creating these bodies reveals several common approaches to membership selection. Each possible alternative scheme has its advantages. Commissions or boards composed entirely of Members permit a high degree of congressional control over the entity's operations. Bodies composed mainly of qualified private citizens or executive branch appointees may provide a broader expertise than Member-only bodies. Assemblages of mixed membership provide some of the advantages of both Member and citizen-only appointment schemes. This report will be updated at the beginning of each new Congress.

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