Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§3702 Organization of Commission

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE › § 3702

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Sets up a commission made up of 15 people. It must include the Secretary of the Interior (or their designee), the Secretary of Education (or their designee), the Librarian of Congress (or their designee), the President of the Association for the Study of Afro‑American Life and History, the presidents of Wilberforce University and Central State University, and nine people the President appoints who are specially qualified. No more than two of the nine appointees can come from the same State. Members named in the first five items serve for the life of the commission, but if one leaves their office they may stay on no more than 30 days. The nine presidential appointees serve four‑year terms, except the first group includes three one‑year, three two‑year, and three four‑year terms. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original appointment. Six members make a quorum, and the commission acts by majority vote. The commission elects officers from its members, meets at least twice a year (headquartered in Wilberforce, Ohio), may adopt a seal and rules, and members do not get paid. It may hire temporary help and request federal staff or GSA support on a reimbursable basis if funds are available.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3702

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Commission shall be composed of fifteen members as follows:
(1)The Secretary of the Interior (or his designee).
(2)The Secretary of Education (or his designee).
(3)The Librarian of Congress (or his designee).
(4)The President of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History.
(5)The presidents of Wilberforce University and Central State University in Ohio.
(6)Nine members appointed by the President, who are especially qualified to serve on the Commission by reason of their background and experience. No more than two members appointed under this paragraph shall be from any one State.
(b)Subject to subsection (c), the members of the Commission specified in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a) shall serve for the life of the Commission. The members of the Commission appointed under paragraph (6) of such subsection shall serve for terms of four years, except that of the members first appointed—
(1)three shall be appointed for terms of one year;
(2)three shall be appointed for terms of two years; and
(3)three shall be appointed for terms of four years;
(c)If any member of the Commission who was appointed to the Commission under paragraphs (1) through (5) 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by “of subsection (a)”. as an officer designated under such paragraphs leaves such office, such member may continue as a member of the Commission for not longer than the thirty-day period beginning on the date he leaves that office.
(d)(1)Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(2)Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. Members may be reappointed.
(e)Six members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
(f)The Commission shall act by affirmative majority vote.
(g)The Commission shall elect a chairman and other officers from among its members to serve for terms established by the Commission.
(h)The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of its members, but not less than two times each year. The headquarters of the Commission shall be at Wilberforce, Ohio, and the Commission shall conduct its meetings in such city unless circumstances otherwise require.
(i)The Commission may adopt an official seal which shall be judicially noticed and may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it considers necessary to carry out its functions under this chapter.
(j)Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
(k)The Commission may procure, subject to the availability of funds, temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5.
(l)Upon request of the Commission, and subject to the availability of funds, the head of any Federal agency may detail to the Commission on a reimbursable basis any of the personnel of such agency to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this chapter.
(m)The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Commission may request to carry out its duties under this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 3702

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73