---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 3702"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "3702"
heading: "Organization of Commission"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/3702"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — National Center for the Study of Afro-American History and Culture"
---

# §3702. Organization of Commission

- (a) **Membership—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall be composed of fifteen members as follows:
  - (1) The Secretary of the Interior (or his designee).
  - (2) The Secretary of Education (or his designee).
  - (3) The Librarian of Congress (or his designee).
  - (4) The President of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History.
  - (5) The presidents of Wilberforce University and Central [State](/usc/20/954.md?p=g-4-E) University in Ohio.
  - (6) Nine members appointed by the President, who are especially qualified to serve on the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) by reason of their background and experience. No more than two members appointed under this paragraph shall be from any one [State](/usc/20/954.md?p=g-4-E).
- (b) **Terms of office—** Subject to [subsection (c)](#c), the members of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) specified in [paragraphs (1) through (5)](#a-1..a-5) of subsection (a) shall serve for the life of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2). The members of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) appointed under [paragraph (6)](#a-6) of such subsection shall serve for terms of four years, except that of the members first appointed—
  - (1) three shall be appointed for terms of one year;
  - (2) three shall be appointed for terms of two years; and
  - (3) three shall be appointed for terms of four years;

  as designated by the President at the time of appointment.

- (c) **Membership continuation—** If any member of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) who was appointed to the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) under [paragraphs (1) through (5)](#c-1..c-5)[^1] as an [officer](/usc/20/1094.md?p=i-5) designated under such paragraphs leaves such office, such member may continue as a member of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) for not longer than the thirty-day period beginning on the date he leaves that office.
- (d) **Vacancies—**
  - (1) Any vacancy in the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
  - (2) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. Members may be reappointed.
- (e) **Quorum—** Six members of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall constitute a quorum.
- (f) **Voting—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall act by affirmative majority vote.
- (g) **Officers—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall elect a chairman and other [officers](/usc/20/1094.md?p=i-5) from among its members to serve for terms established by the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2).
- (h) **Meetings—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of its members, but not less than two times each year. The headquarters of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall be at Wilberforce, Ohio, and the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall conduct its meetings in such city unless circumstances otherwise require.
- (i) **Seal; bylaws; rules and regulations—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) may adopt an official seal which shall be judicially noticed and may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it considers necessary to carry out its functions under this chapter.
- (j) **Compensation—** Members of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) shall serve without pay.
- (k) **Temporary services—** The [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) may procure, subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3), temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by [section 3109(b) of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md?p=b).
- (l) **Personnel details—** Upon request of the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2), and subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3), the head of any Federal agency may detail to the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) on a reimbursable basis any of the personnel of such agency to assist the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) in carrying out its duties under this chapter.
- (m) **Administrative support services—** The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the [Commission](/usc/20/9701.md?p=2) may request to carry out its duties under this chapter.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by “of subsection (a)”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–430, title II, § 203, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1847.)