§1008 Establishment and purpose of advisory committees

Summary

Agencies may only set up an advisory committee if a law or the President allows it, or if the agency head, after talking with the Administrator, records that the committee is in the public interest and posts timely notice in the Federal Register. Advisory committees are for giving advice only unless a law or Presidential order gives them other powers. Decisions and policy remain with the President or the appropriate federal officer. A committee cannot meet or act until it files a charter. Presidential committees file the charter with the Administrator. Other committees file it with the agency they report to and with the Senate and House standing committees that oversee that agency. The charter must list the committee’s name, goals and scope, time needed, who it reports to, which agency will support it, its duties (and any authority), estimated annual costs in dollars and person‑years, expected meetings, a termination date if under 2 years, and the filing date. A copy must be sent to the Library of Congress.