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Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110

§179o Responsibilities and Powers of Board

Title 2 › CHAPTER 5 — LIBRARY OF CONGRESS › § 179o

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Board must review films nominated for the National Film Registry and work with the Librarian to decide which culturally, historically, or artistically important films to add and how to preserve them. It must consider nominations from the public, film industry groups, archives, preservation organizations, and schools, and it may nominate up to 25 films each year. To do its job, the Board may hold hearings, meet when and where needed, take testimony, and accept evidence. Two current Board members must be appointed by the Librarian to serve on the National Film Preservation Foundation.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §179o

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
The Board shall review nominations of films submitted to it for inclusion in the National Film Registry and consult with the Librarian, as provided in section 179m of this title, with respect to the inclusion of such films in the Registry and the preservation of these and other films that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
(b)Nomination of films
The Board shall consider, for inclusion in the National Film Registry, nominations submitted by the general public as well as representatives of the film industry, such as the guilds and societies representing actors, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, and other creative artists, producers, and film critics, archives and other film preservation organizations, and representatives of academic institutions with film study programs. The Board shall nominate not more than 25 films each year for inclusion in the Registry.
(c)Powers
(1)In general
The Board may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Librarian and the Board consider appropriate.
(2)Service on Foundation
Two sitting members of the Board shall be appointed by the Librarian, and shall serve, as Board members of the National Film Preservation Foundation, in accordance with section 151703 of title 36.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification “Section 151703 of title 36” substituted in subsec. (c)(2) for “section 203”, meaning section 203 of the National Film Preservation Act of 1996, on authority of Pub. L. 105–225, § 5(b), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1499, the first section of which enacted Title 36, Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 179o

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110