§4502 Foundation

Summary

Creates the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation as an independent part of the executive branch to mark the Constitution’s bicentennial. It will be run by a 13-member Board of Trustees. The President appoints two Senators (from different parties) after recommendations from Senate leaders, and two Representatives (from different parties) after recommendation from the Speaker and House minority leader. The President appoints two federal judges after the Chief Justice’s recommendation. The President also appoints six other members, no more than three from one party, with Senate approval; among those six are one state chief executive, two people from the general public, and three academics recommended by the Librarian of Congress. The Secretary of Education (or a designee) is a Board member but cannot be Chair. Board members serve six-year terms. The first group of members is staggered: four serve 2 years, five serve 4 years, and four serve 6 years. If someone fills a vacancy, they finish that term and are appointed the same way as the original. A member may stay until a successor takes office or until Congress adjourns sine die for the session that starts after the term ended. The Board elects a Chair and other officers. Members are unpaid but can be reimbursed for travel and necessary expenses at the rates for U.S. judges under 28 U.S.C. 456(a).