§2996c Board of Directors

Summary

Creates an 11-member Board of Directors. The President picks the members with the Senate’s approval. No more than six can be from the same political party. Most members must be lawyers admitted to a State’s highest court. No one on the Board can be a full-time federal employee. For appointments after December 28, 1977 (and no later than July 31, 1978), the Board must include eligible clients and broadly represent the organized bar, lawyers who help eligible clients, and the public. Each member serves a three-year term, except five first appointees named by the President serve two years. Members stay on until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies are filled only for the rest of the term. Members are not federal officers or employees because they serve on the Board. The President names the first chairman for three years; after that the Board elects a chair each year. A member can be removed by seven votes for serious wrongdoing, repeated failure to do duties, or crimes showing dishonesty or immorality, and for no other reason. Within six months of the Board’s first meeting, each Governor must be asked to name a nine-member state advisory council (or the Board will appoint one after 90 days). Most council members must be lawyers chosen after State bar recommendations, and councils are renewed yearly. Councils must report apparent violations to the Corporation and send a copy to affected recipients, who must get a reasonable chance (at least 30 days) to reply. All Board, committee, and advisory council meetings must be open to the public and follow the open-meetings law (5 U.S.C. 552b). The Board must meet at least four times each year.