Commission membership — Us Code Code § 3003

Us Code Code § 3003 — Commission membership. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 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, §3, June 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 661; Pub. L. 99–7, §1(a), (b), Mar. 27, 1985, 99 Stat. 18.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 99–7, §1(a), 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."

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


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 99–7 effective Apr. 15, 1985, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 99–7, set out as a note under section 3002 of this title.

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

Designation of Chairman and Cochairman for Duration of 99th Congress

Pub. L. 99–7, §1(c), Mar. 27, 1985, 99 Stat. 19, provided that: "On the effective date of this subsection [Apr. 15, 1985], 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."

About This Section

22 U.S.C. § 3003 is part of Title 22 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 22 U.S.C. § 3003. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official United States Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

Common questions

What is the source of United States Code § 3003?

The text above is transcribed from the United States Code, the codified statutes of Us Code. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does United States Code § 3003 address?

It addresses "Commission membership". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is United States Code § 3003 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Us Code source before relying on this text.

Can this page be used as legal advice?

No. This is a reference transcription for research. Applying Us Code law to your facts requires a licensed Us Code attorney who can review the specifics.