
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1975]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                  CHAPTER 20A--CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
 
Sec. 1975. Establishment of Commission


(a) Generally

    There is established the United States Commission on Civil Rights 
(hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the ``Commission'').

(b) Membership

    The Commission shall be composed of 8 members. Not more than 4 of 
the members shall at any one time be of the same political party. The 
initial membership of the Commission shall be the members of the United 
States Commission on Civil Rights on September 30, 1994. Thereafter 
vacancies in the membership of the Commission shall continue to be 
appointed as follows:
        (1) 4 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the 
    President.
        (2) 2 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the 
    President pro tempore of the Senate, upon the recommendations of the 
    majority leader and the minority leader, and of the members 
    appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same 
    political party.
        (3) 2 members of the Commission shall be appointed by the 
    Speaker of the House of Representatives upon the recommendations of 
    the majority leader and the minority leader, and of the members 
    appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same 
    political party.

(c) Terms

    The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be 6 
years. The term of each member of the Commission in the initial 
membership of the Commission shall expire on the date such term would 
have expired as of September 30, 1994.

(d) Chairperson

    (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the individuals 
serving as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the United States 
Commission on Civil Rights on September 30, 1994 shall initially fill 
those roles on the Commission.
    (2) Thereafter the President may, with the concurrence of a majority 
of the Commission's members, designate a Chairperson or Vice 
Chairperson, as the case may be, from among the Commission's members.
    (3) The President shall, with the concurrence of a majority of the 
Commission's members, fill a vacancy by designating a Chairperson or 
Vice Chairperson, as the case may be, from among the Commission's 
members.
    (4) The Vice Chairperson shall act in place of the Chairperson in 
the absence of the Chairperson.

(e) Removal of members

    The President may remove a member of the Commission only for neglect 
of duty or malfeasance in office.

(f) Quorum

    5 members of the Commission constitute a quorum of the Commission.

(Pub. L. 98-183, Sec. 2, Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 102-167, 
Sec. 5, Nov. 26, 1991, 105 Stat. 1101; Pub. L. 103-419, Sec. 2, Oct. 25, 
1994, 108 Stat. 4338.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 1975, Pub. L. 85-315, pt. I, Sec. 101, Sept. 9, 
1957, 71 Stat. 634, related to establishment, membership, etc., of 
Commission on Civil Rights. See Codification note set out preceding this 
section.


                               Amendments

    1994--Pub. L. 103-419 amended section generally, substituting 
provisions relating to establishment of United States Commission on 
Civil Rights for provisions relating to Commission on Civil Rights.
    1991--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102-167 substituted ``Chairperson'' for 
``Chairman'' wherever appearing.


                      Short Title of 1994 Amendment

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 103-419 provided that: ``This Act [amending 
this section and sections 1975a to 1975d of this title, omitting former 
sections 1975e and 1975f of this title, and amending provisions set out 
as a note below] may be cited as the `Civil Rights Commission Amendments 
Act of 1994'.''


                      Short Title of 1992 Amendment

    Pub. L. 102-400, Sec. 1, Oct. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1955, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending section 1975e of this title] may be cited as 
the `United States Commission on Civil Rights Authorization Act of 
1992'.''


                      Short Title of 1991 Amendment

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 102-167 provided that: ``This Act [amending 
this section and sections 1975a and 1975c to 1975f of this title] may be 
cited as the `United States Commission on Civil Rights Reauthorization 
Act of 1991'.''


                      Short Title of 1989 Amendment

    Pub. L. 101-180, Sec. 1, Nov. 28, 1989, 103 Stat. 1325, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending sections 1975e and 1975f of this title] may 
be cited as the `Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization Act of 1989'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 98-183, as amended by Pub. L. 103-419, Sec. 2, 
Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4338, provided that: ``This Act [enacting this 
chapter] may be cited as the `Civil Rights Commission Act of 1983'.''
