Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§205d United States Metric Board

Title 15 › CHAPTER 6 — WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND STANDARD TIME › SUBCHAPTER II — METRIC CONVERSION › § 205d

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates an independent United States Metric Board made up of 17 people. The President, with Senate approval, names the Chairman and 16 other members. The 16 members come from specific groups (engineers, scientists, manufacturers, commerce/retail, labor (2), state and local government, small business (2), construction, weights and measures, educators, and 4 at-large consumer/other members). Each nominating list must include at least three names. The first members’ terms are staggered so five end after 2 years, five after 4 years, and six after 6 years. The Chairman serves 6 years. Members may be reappointed for another 6-year term. If someone leaves early, their replacement serves the rest of that term. Forty-five days after the Board is set up, six members make a quorum. The Board has no enforcement powers unless Congress gives them. The Board ends when Congress passes a law saying its work is done.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §205d

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment

There is established, in accordance with this section, an independent instrumentality to be known as a United States Metric Board.

(b)Membership; Chairman; appointment of members; term of office; vacancies

The Board shall consist of 17 individuals, as follows:

(1)the Chairman, a qualified individual who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;

(2)sixteen members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the following basis—

(A)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by engineers and organizations representative of engineering interests;

(B)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by scientists, the scientific and technical community, and organizations representative of scientists and technicians;

(C)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Association of Manufacturers or its successor;

(D)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the United States Chamber of Commerce, or its successor, retailers, and other commercial organizations;

(E)two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations or its successor, who are representative of workers directly affected by metric conversion, and by other organizations representing labor;

(F)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Governors Conference, the National Council of State Legislatures, and organizations representative of State and local government;

(G)two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by organizations representative of small business;

(H)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals representative of the construction industry;

(I)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Conference on Weights and Measures and standards making organizations;

(J)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by educators, the educational community, and organizations representative of educational interests; and

(K)four at-large members to represent consumers and other interests deemed suitable by the President and who shall be qualified individuals.

As used in this subsection, each “list” shall include the names of at least three individuals for each applicable vacancy. The terms of office of the members of the Board first taking office shall expire as designated by the President at the time of nomination; five at the end of the 2d year; five at the end of the 4th year; and six at the end of the 6th year. The term of office of the Chairman of such Board shall be 6 years. Members, including the Chairman, may be appointed to an additional term of 6 years, in the same manner as the original appointment. Successors to members of such Board shall be appointed in the same manner as the original members and shall have terms of office expiring 6 years from the date of expiration of the terms for which their predecessors were appointed. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term of office shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. Beginning 45 days after the date of incorporation of the Board, six members of such Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any function of the Board.

(c)Compulsory powers

Unless otherwise provided by the Congress, the Board shall have no compulsory powers.

(d)Termination

The Board shall cease to exist when the Congress, by law, determines that its mission has been accomplished.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 205d

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110