
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC6431]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
               CHAPTER 73--INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
 
      SUBCHAPTER II--COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
 
Sec. 6431. Establishment and composition


(a) In general

    There is established the United States Commission on International 
Religious Freedom.

(b) Membership

                           (1) Appointment

        The Commission shall be composed of--
            (A) the Ambassador at Large, who shall serve ex officio as a 
        nonvoting member of the Commission; and
            (B) Nine \1\ other members, who shall be United States 
        citizens who are not being paid as officers or employees of the 
        United States, and who shall be appointed as follows:
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
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                (i) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed 
            by the President.
                (ii) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed 
            by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of which two of 
            the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
            the leader in the Senate of the political party that is not 
            the political party of the President, and of which one of 
            the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
            the leader in the Senate of the other political party.
                (iii) Three members of the Commission shall be appointed 
            by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of which two 
            of the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
            the leader in the House of the political party that is not 
            the political party of the President, and of which one of 
            the members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of 
            the leader in the House of the other political party.

                            (2) Selection

        (A) In general

            Members of the Commission shall be selected among 
        distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and 
        experience in fields relevant to the issue of international 
        religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience 
        abroad, human rights, and international law.

        (B) Security clearances

            Each member of the Commission shall be required to obtain a 
        security clearance.

                       (3) Time of appointment

        The appointments required by paragraph (1) shall be made not 
    later than 120 days after October 27, 1998.

(c) Terms

    (1) \2\ In general.--The term of office of each member of the 
Commission shall be 2 years. The term of each member of the Commission 
appointed to the first two-year term of the Commission shall be 
considered to have begun on May 15, 1999, and shall end on May 14, 2001, 
regardless of the date of appointment to the Commission. The term of 
each member of the Commission appointed to the second two-year term of 
the Commission shall begin on May 15, 2001, and shall end on May 14, 
2003, regardless of the date of appointment to the Commission. In the 
case in which a vacancy in the membership of the Commission is filled 
during a two-year term of the Commission, such membership on the 
Commission shall terminate at the end of that two-year term of the 
Commission. Members of the Commission shall be eligible for 
reappointment to a second term.
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    \2\ So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.
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(d) Election of Chair

    At the first meeting of the Commission in each calendar year, a 
majority of the members of the Commission present and voting shall elect 
the Chair of the Commission.

(e) Quorum

    Six voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for 
purposes of transacting business.

(f) Meetings

    Each year, within 15 days, or as soon as practicable, after the 
issuance of the Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the Commission 
shall convene. The Commission shall otherwise meet at the call of the 
Chair or, if no Chair has been elected for that calendar year, at the 
call of six voting members of the Commission.

(g) Vacancies

    Any vacancy of the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(h) Administrative support

    The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission on a reimbursable basis (or, in the discretion of the 
Administrator, on a nonreimbursable basis) such administrative support 
services as the Commission may request to carry out the provisions of 
this subchapter.

(i) Funding

    Members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 while 
away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance 
of services for the Commission.

(Pub. L. 105-292, title II, Sec. 201, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2797; 
Pub. L. 106-55, Secs. 1(a), 2(b), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 401, 406.)


                               Amendments

    1999--Pub. L. 106-55, Sec. 1(a)(2), which directed amendment of 
section by inserting after first sentence ``The term of each member of 
the Commission appointed to the first two-year term of the Commission 
shall be considered to have begun on May 15, 1999, and shall end on May 
14, 2001, regardless of the date of appointment to the Commission. The 
term of each member of the Commission appointed to the second two-year 
term of the Commission shall begin on May 15, 2001, and shall end on May 
14, 2003, regardless of the date of appointment to the Commission. In 
the case in which a vacancy in the membership of the Commission is 
filled during a two-year term of the Commission, such membership on the 
Commission shall terminate at the end of that two-year term of the 
Commission.'', was executed by making the insertion after the first 
sentence of subsec. (c)(1) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
    Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 106-55, Sec. 2(b), substituted 
``Three'' for ``three''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106-55, Sec. 1(a)(1), designated existing 
provisions as par. (1) and inserted par. heading.
    Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106-55, Sec. 1(a)(3), amended heading and text 
of subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: 
``The Secretary of State shall assist the Commission by providing to the 
Commission such staff and administrative services of the Office as may 
be necessary and appropriate for the Commission to perform its 
functions. Any employee of the executive branch of Government may be 
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement to the agency of that 
employee and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 
service status or privilege.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 6402 of this title.
