Crs Report for Congress: Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups

ISBN-10: 1294025066
ISBN-13: 9781294025061
Series: Crs Report for Congress
Pages: 128
Language: English
Published: 2013-10
Publisher: BiblioGov
Authors: Matthew Eric Glassman, Congressional Research Service: The Libr

Description

Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions Congressional Research Service Summary Over the past several decades, Congress, by statute, has established a wide array of commissions, boards, and advisory bodies to provide it with assistance in meeting various legislative, investigative, and administrative responsibilities. Some of these entities are temporary and created to serve specific functions, such as studying a discrete policy area or performing one-time tasks. Others are permanent, serving an ongoing purpose, such as overseeing an institution or performing a regular administrative function. 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. The choice of a particular mechanism for membership appointment may have implications for 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 alternative schema has its advantages. A commission or board composed entirely of Members permits a high degree of congressional control over the entitys operations. Bodies composed mainly of qualified private citizens or executive branch appointees may provide a broader expertise ...