§955b — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

Summary

The President must create and give a National Medal of Arts. The medal’s design is chosen by the President after advice from the National Council on the Arts. The President awards it to people or groups the Council recommends for their outstanding work in improving and supporting the arts in the United States. No more than twelve medals can be given in any calendar year. To get the medal, an individual must be a U.S. citizen or national, or a lawful permanent resident who has filed a naturalization application as required by federal law (8 U.S.C. 1445) and is not permanently barred from citizenship. A group must be organized or incorporated in the United States. The President presents the medals at ceremonies, and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts pay for the program.

Title 20, §955b

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is hereby established a National Medal of Arts, which shall be a medal of such design as is deemed appropriate by the President, on the basis of recommendations submitted by the National Council on the Arts, and which shall be awarded as provided in subsection (b).

(b)(1)The President shall from time to time award the National Medal of Arts, on the basis of recommendations from the National Council on the Arts, to individuals or groups who in the President’s judgment are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.

(2)Not more than twelve of such medals may be awarded in any calendar year.

(3)An individual may be awarded the National Medal of Arts only if at the time such award is made such individual—

(A)is a citizen or other national of the United States; or

(B)is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who (i) has filed an application or petition for naturalization in the manner prescribed by section 1445 of title 8 and (ii) is not permanently ineligible to become a citizen of the United States.

(4)A group may be awarded the National Medal of Arts only if such group is organized or incorporated in the United States.

(5)The presentation of the National Medal of Arts shall be made by the President with such ceremonies as the President may deem proper, including attendance by appropriate Members of Congress.

(c)Funds made available to the National Endowment for the Arts shall be used to carry out this section.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act

Amendments

of 1983, and not as part of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 which comprises this subchapter.

§955b National Medal of Arts

Summary

Title 20, §955b

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

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