§1008 Establishment and Purpose of Advisory Committees

Summary

An advisory committee must not be created unless a law allows it or the President allows it. It can also be created if the head of the agency decides it is in the public interest after talking with the Administrator and posts a timely notice in the Federal Register. Advisory committees are only for giving advice unless a law or Presidential order says otherwise. Final decisions and official policy stay with the President or the appropriate federal official. A committee cannot meet or act until a charter is filed with the right people. For Presidential committees, the charter goes to the Administrator. For other committees, the charter goes to the agency head and to the standing congressional committees that oversee that agency. The charter must say the committee’s name, goals and scope, how long it will work, who it reports to, which agency will support it, the duties and any authority if not only advisory, estimated annual costs (dollars and person-years), expected number and timing of meetings, a termination date if under 2 years, and the filing date. A copy of the charter must be given to the Library of Congress.