 
   CHAPTER 26--SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIP IN HUMANITIES AND ARTS; MUSEUM 
                                SERVICES
 
    SUBCHAPTER I--NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
 
Sec. 957. National Council on the Humanities


(a) Establishment

    There is established in the National Endowment for the Humanities a 
National Council on the Humanities.

(b) Composition; basis for selection of members; representation of 
        interests; recommendations of national organizations

    The Council shall be composed of the Chairperson of the National 
Endowment for the Humanities, who shall be the Chairperson of the 
Council, and twenty-six other members appointed by the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, from private life. Such 
members shall be individuals who (1) are selected from among private 
citizens of the United States who are recognized for their broad 
knowledge of, expertise in, or commitment to the humanities, and (2) 
have established records of distinguished service and scholarship or 
creativity and in a manner which will provide a comprehensive 
representation of the views of scholars and professional practitioners 
in the humanities and of the public throughout the United States. The 
President is requested in the making of such appointments to give 
consideration to such recommendations as may from time to time be 
submitted to him by leading national organizations concerned with the 
humanities. In making such appointments, the President shall give due 
regard to equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals 
with disabilities who are involved in the humanities.

(c) Term of office; vacancies; reappointment

    Each member shall hold office for a term of six years, except that 
(1) the members first taking office shall serve, as designated by the 
President, nine for terms of two years, nine for terms of four years, 
and eight for terms of six years, and (2) any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which such 
member's predecessor was appointed. No member shall be eligible for 
reappointment during the two-year period following the expiration of 
such member's term. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 
subsection, a member shall serve after the expiration of such member's 
term until such member's successor takes office.

(d) Meetings; quorum

    The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairperson but not less 
often than twice during each calendar year. Fourteen members of the 
Council shall constitute a quorum.

(e) Compensation and travel expenses

    Members shall receive compensation at a rate to be fixed by the 
Chairperson but not to exceed the per diem equivalent of the rate 
authorized for grade GS-18 by section 5332 of title 5 and be allowed 
travel expenses including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized 
by law (section 5703 of title 5) for persons in the Government service 
employed intermittently.

(f) Advisory functions: policies, programs, and procedures; review of 
        applications for financial support; recommendations prerequisite 
        to action of Chairperson; unilateral action by Chairperson 
        pursuant to delegation of authority

    The Council shall (1) advise the Chairperson with respect to 
policies, programs, and procedures for carrying out the Chairperson's 
functions, and (2) shall review applications for financial support and 
make recommendations thereon to the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall 
not approve or disapprove any such application until the Chairperson has 
received the recommendation of the Council on such application, unless 
the Council fails to make a recommendation thereon within a reasonable 
time. In the case of any application involving $30,000, or less, the 
Chairperson may approve or disapprove such request if such action is 
taken pursuant to the terms of a delegation of authority from the 
Council to the Chairperson, and provided that each such action by the 
Chairperson shall be reviewed by the Council: Provided, That the terms 
of any such delegation of authority shall not permit obligations for 
expenditure of funds under such delegation for any fiscal year which 
exceed an amount equal to 10 per centum of the sums appropriated for 
that fiscal year pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of 
section 960(a) of this title.

(Pub. L. 89-209, Sec. 8, Sept. 29, 1965, 79 Stat. 851; Pub. L. 90-348, 
Sec. 4, June 18, 1968, 82 Stat. 186; Pub. L. 91-346, Sec. 5(c), July 20, 
1970, 84 Stat. 444; Pub. L. 93-133, Sec. 2(a)(7), Oct. 19, 1973, 87 
Stat. 464; Pub. L. 94-462, title I, Sec. 103(b), Oct. 8, 1976, 90 Stat. 
1971; Pub. L. 96-496, title I, Sec. 105, Dec. 4, 1980, 94 Stat. 2587; 
renumbered title I, Sec. 8, and amended Pub. L. 98-306, Secs. 2, 5(b), 
May 31, 1984, 98 Stat. 223, 224; renumbered Sec. 8 and amended Pub. L. 
99-194, title I, Secs. 101(1), 108, Dec. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 1332, 1338.)


                               Amendments

    1985--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-194, Sec. 108(1), substituted 
``Chairperson'' for ``Chairman'' in two places, substituted 
``individuals who (1) are selected from among private citizens of the 
United States who are recognized for their broad knowledge of, expertise 
in, or commitment to the humanities, and (2) have established records 
of'' for ``selected on the basis of'', and inserted provision that in 
making such appointments, the President shall give due regard to 
equitable representation of women, minorities, and individuals with 
disabilities who are involved in the humanities.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-194, Sec. 108(2), substituted ``such 
member's'' for ``his'' wherever appearing.
    Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 99-194, Sec. 108(3), substituted 
``Chairperson'' for ``Chairman'' wherever appearing.
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99-194, Sec. 108(3), (4), substituted 
``Chairperson'' for ``Chairman'' wherever appearing, ``the 
Chairperson's'' for ``his'', and ``until the Chairperson has received'' 
for ``until he has received''.
    1984--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-306, Sec. 5(b), inserted 
``Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, a member 
shall serve after the expiration of his term until his successor takes 
office.''
    1980--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96-496 substituted ``$30,000'' for 
``$17,500''.
    1976--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-462 inserted ``, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate,'' after ``by the President''.
    1973--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93-133 substituted ``$17,500'' for 
``$10,000'' and inserted proviso that the terms of delegation of 
authority shall not permit obligations for expenditure of funds under 
such delegation for any fiscal year which exceeds an amount equal to 10 
per centum of the sums appropriated for that fiscal year.
    1970--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 91-346 set forth provisions governing 
compensation of persons employed for the Government service on an 
intermittent basis.
    1968--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 90-348 inserted provisions which 
authorized the Chairman, in the case of any application involving 
$10,000 or less, to approve or disapprove the application if such action 
is pursuant to the terms of a delegation of authority from the Endowment 
Council and such action is reviewed by the Endowment Council.


                    Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 93-133 effective on and after July 1, 1973, see 
section 2(b) of Pub. L. 93-133, set out as a note under section 951 of 
this title.


         References in Other Laws to GS-16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

    References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to 
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered 
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, 
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376 
of Title 5.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 959 of this title.
