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Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§4804 Membership

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 74— - COMPETITIVENESS POLICY COUNCIL › § 4804

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a 12-member Council and explains who picks the members and what rules they must follow. The President picks four people: one business leader, one labor leader, one public interest leader, and one head of a Federal department or agency. The Senate leaders jointly pick four: one business leader, one labor leader, one academic, and one State or local government representative. The House leaders jointly pick four with the same categories as the Senate picks. Other federal officials can take part as nonvoting members if the Council asks. All members must know the U.S. economy and international competition. No more than six can be from the same political party. The first members had to be named within 30 days after August 20, 1990. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original appointment, and someone appointed to finish an unexpired term serves only the remainder. Members may stay on until their successor arrives. A member can be removed only for serious wrongdoing on the job. Members cannot be agents or foreign lobbyists as defined in 2 U.S.C. 1602. While working for the Council, members get travel pay and per diem under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. Seven members make a quorum; fewer may hold hearings only if two-thirds of the whole Council agree. The Council cannot start work until all nongovernmental members are appointed and qualified. The Chair must be elected by a two-thirds vote from among nongovernmental members. Meetings are called by the Chair or by a majority. Policy actions need approval by two-thirds of the whole Council. Each member must name one alternate; an alternate counts as a member when attending except they cannot vote.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §4804

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Council shall consist of 12 members, of whom—
(A)four members shall be appointed by the President, of whom—
(i)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in business;
(ii)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community;
(iii)one shall be a national leader who has been active in public interest activities; and
(iv)one shall be a head of a Federal department or agency;
(B)four members shall be appointed by the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate, acting jointly, of whom—
(i)one shall be a national leader with experience or background in business;
(ii)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community;
(iii)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the academic community; and
(iv)one shall be a representative of State or local government; and
(C)four members shall be appointed by the Speaker, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, acting jointly, of whom—
(i)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in business;
(ii)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the labor community;
(iii)one shall be a national leader with experience and background in the academic community; and
(iv)one shall be a representative of State or local government.
(2)In addition to the head of a Federal department or agency appointed in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(iv), other Federal officials may participate on an ex-officio basis as requested by the Council.
(3)All members of the Council shall be individuals who have a broad understanding of the United States economy and the United States competitive position internationally.
(4)Not more than 6 members of the Council shall be members of the same political party.
(b)The initial members of the Council shall be appointed within 30 days after August 20, 1990.
(c)(1)A vacancy on the Council shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(2)Any member appointed to fill a vacancy on the Council occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of such member was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.
(3)A member of the Council may serve after the expiration of the term of such member until the successor of such member has taken office.
(d)Members of the Council may be removed only for malfeasance in office.
(e)A member of the Council shall not serve as an agent for a foreign principal or a lobbyist for a foreign entity (as the terms “lobbyist” and “foreign entity” are defined under section 1602 of title 2).
(f)Each member of the Council, while engaged in duties as a member of the Council, shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of such member, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5.
(g)(1)Seven members of the Council constitute a quorum, except that a lesser number may hold hearings if such action is approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire Council.
(2)The Council shall not commence its duties until all the nongovernmental members have been appointed and have qualified.
(h)The Council shall elect, by a two-thirds vote of the entire Council, a chairperson from among the nongovernmental members.
(i)The Council shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members.
(j)Except as provided in subsection (g), no action establishing policy shall be taken by the Council unless approved by two-thirds of the entire membership of the Council.
(k)(1)Each member of the Council shall designate one alternate representative to attend any meeting that such member is unable to attend.
(2)In the course of attending any such meeting, an alternate representative shall be considered a member of the Council for all purposes, except for voting.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–65, which directed amendment of section “5206(e) of the Competitiveness Policy Council Act (15 U.S.C. 4804(e))” by inserting “or a lobbyist for a foreign entity (as the terms ‘lobbyist’ and ‘foreign entity’ are defined under section 1602 of title 2)” after “an agent for a foreign principal”, was executed to section 5205(e) of such Act, which is subsec. (e) of this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–382, § 133(a)(1), substituted reference to Aug. 20, 1990, for reference to Jan. 21, 1989. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–382, § 133(a)(2), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “(1) A member of the Council may not serve as an agent for a foreign principal. “(2) Members of the Council shall be required to file a financial disclosure report under title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–521), except that such reports shall be held confidential and exempt from any law otherwise requiring their public disclosure. “(3) Members of the Council shall be deemed to be special Government employees, as defined in section 202 of title 18, for purposes of section 201, 202, 203, 205, and 208 of such title.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–382, § 133(a)(2), added subsec. (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) “Compensation” which read as follows: “(1) Each member of the Council who is not employed by the Federal Government or any State or local government— “(A) shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the rate for GS–18 of the General Schedule pursuant to section 5332 of title 5 for each day such member is engaged in duties as a member of the Council; and “(B) shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of such member, in accordance with section 5703 of such title. “(2) Each member of the Council who is employed by the Federal Government or any State or local government shall serve on the Council without additional compensation, but while engaged in duties as a member of the Council shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of such member, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5.” Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 101–382, § 133(a)(3), struck out subsec. (l) which read as follows: “The Council may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for GS–16 of the General Schedule.” Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 101–382, § 133(a)(3), struck out subsec. (m) which read as follows: “Upon request of the Council, the head of any other Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Council to assist the Council in carrying out its duties under this chapter.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–65 effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided, see section 24 of Pub. L. 104–65, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1601 of Title 2, The Congress.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 4804

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73