§4356 Advisory Committee

Summary

Creates a permanent Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation at the Department of State. The Office of the Historian will run its activities. The Committee will have 9 members and an executive secretary. The Historian must be the executive secretary. The Secretary of State will pick members from scholars and experts who have done major research on U.S. foreign relations. No U.S. Government officers or employees may be members. Six members must come from lists sent by these groups: American Historical Association; Organization of American Historians; American Political Science Association; Society of American Archivists; American Society of International Law; and Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. If a group misses the deadline, the Secretary may choose from the other lists. Members normally serve three-year terms that start on September 1. For the first group, three members get one-year terms, three get two-year terms, and three get three-year terms. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original appointment and appointees finish the unexpired term. A member may stay on until a successor is chosen and may be reappointed. The members pick a chair for one year and may reelect the chair. A majority is needed for a quorum. The Committee must meet at least quarterly. Members must get necessary security clearances under the usual rules and are treated as having a need to know for access to classified records. Members may be paid up to the daily equivalent of the GS‑15 annual rate under section 5332 of title 5 for days worked, and may get travel pay and per diem under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. The Secretary may provide secretarial and staff help. Chapter 10 of title 5 does not apply where it conflicts with these rules.