§2302 Functions of the Council; Membership

Summary

Runs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as its board of trustees. The Council makes big policy choices, sets strategy, watches over operations, and manages finances. It must have an Executive Committee that governs when the full Council is not meeting. Has 65 voting members. Most are chosen by the President, but 5 are picked by the Speaker of the House from House members and 5 are picked by the Senate President pro tempore from Senators on leaders’ recommendation. There are also three nonvoting members chosen by the Secretaries of the Interior, State, and Education. Members usually serve 5-year terms. House and Senate appointees’ terms end with that Congress. Vacancies are filled the same way as the original pick. The President chooses a Chair and Vice Chair from the Council for 5 years. Members can be reappointed. The Council must have bylaws. The Chair may temporarily waive a bylaw but must send written notice; the waiver is final after 30 days unless a majority objects in writing. One-third of members is a quorum. The Chair may add nonmembers to committees, and they serve without cost to the Federal Government.