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Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73

§43 Appointment of regents; terms of office; vacancies

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - CHARTER PROVISIONS › § 43

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Regents are picked this way. Senators are chosen by the President of the Senate. Members of the House are chosen by the Speaker. Nine other regents are chosen by joint resolution of Congress. House appointees serve two-year terms. Appointments are made on every alternate fourth Wednesday of December and end on the fourth Wednesday in December in the second year after appointment. Senators serve for the length of their Senate term, without re-election. If a regent dies, resigns, or leaves, the vacancy is filled the same way committee vacancies are filled. The nine other regents serve six-year terms and are replaced or refilled by joint resolution of Congress.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §43

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The regents to be selected shall be appointed as follows: The Members of the Senate by the President thereof; the Members of the House by the Speaker thereof; and the nine other persons by joint resolution of the Congress. The Members of the House so appointed shall serve for the term of two years; and on every alternate fourth Wednesday of December a like number shall be appointed in the same manner to serve until the fourth Wednesday in December, in the second year succeeding their appointment. The Senators so appointed shall serve during the term for which they shall hold, without re-election, their office as Senators. Vacancies, occasioned by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled as vacancies in committees are filled. The regular term of service for the other nine members shall be six years; and new elections thereof shall be made by joint resolutions of Congress. Vacancies occasioned by death, resignation, or otherwise may be filled in like manner by joint resolution of Congress.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification R.S. § 5581 derived from act Aug. 10, 1846, ch. 178, § 3, 9 Stat. 103.

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–551 authorized appointment of three additional members of the board by joint resolution of Congress.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 43

Title 20 — Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73