
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-424 Section 10]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-424 Section 11]
[CITE: 49USC1111]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE II--OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
 
            CHAPTER 11--NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
 
             SUBCHAPTER II--ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
Sec. 1111. General organization

    (a) Organization.--The National Transportation Safety Board is an 
independent establishment of the United States Government.
    (b) Appointment of Members.--The Board is composed of 5 members 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate. Not more than 3 members may be appointed from the same political 
party. At least 3 members shall be appointed on the basis of technical 
qualification, professional standing, and demonstrated knowledge in 
accident reconstruction, safety engineering, human factors, 
transportation safety, or transportation regulation.
    (c) Terms of Office and Removal.--The term of office of each member 
is 5 years. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before 
the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of that individual 
was appointed, is appointed for the remainder of that term. When the 
term of office of a member ends, the member may continue to serve until 
a successor is appointed and qualified. The President may remove a 
member for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
    (d) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The President shall designate, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Chairman of the Board. 
The President also shall designate a Vice Chairman of the Board. The 
terms of office of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman are 2 years. When 
the Chairman is absent or unable to serve or when the position of 
Chairman is vacant, the Vice Chairman acts as Chairman.
    (e) Duties and Powers of Chairman.--The Chairman is the chief 
executive and administrative officer of the Board. Subject to the 
general policies and decisions of the Board, the Chairman shall--
        (1) appoint, supervise, and fix the pay of officers and 
    employees necessary to carry out this chapter;
        (2) distribute business among the officers, employees, and 
    administrative units of the Board; and
        (3) supervise the expenditures of the Board.

    (f) Quorum.--Three members of the Board are a quorum in carrying out 
duties and powers of the Board.
    (g) Offices, Bureaus, and Divisions.--The Board shall establish 
offices necessary to carry out this chapter, including an office to 
investigate and report on the safe transportation of hazardous material. 
The Board shall establish distinct and appropriately staffed bureaus, 
divisions, or offices to investigate and report on accidents involving 
each of the following modes of transportation:
        (1) aviation.
        (2) highway and motor vehicle.
        (3) rail and tracked vehicle.
        (4) pipeline.

    (h) Seal.--The Board shall have a seal that shall be judicially 
recognized.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 746.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
1111(a)...............................  49 App.:1902(a).                 Jan. 3
, 1975, Pub. L. 93-633, Sec.
                                                                          303(a
), (b)(2)- (c), 88 Stat. 2167,
                                                                          2168.
1111(b)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(1) (1st          Jan. 3
, 1975, Pub. L. 93-633, Sec.
                                         sentence words before comma,     303(b
)(1), 88 Stat. 2167; Oct. 14,
                                         2d-last sentences).              1982,
 Pub. L. 97-309, Sec.  1 (1st
                                                                          sente
nce), 96 Stat. 1453.
1111(c)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(2).
1111(d)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(1) (1st
                                         sentence words after comma),
                                         (3) (1st, 2d, 4th sentences).
1111(e)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(3) (3d, last
                                         sentences), (c)(3).
1111(f)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(4).
1111(g)...............................  49 App.:1902(b)(5), (c)(1).
1111(h)...............................  49 App.:1902(c)(2).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), the words ``previously established within the 
Department of Transportation'' are omitted as unnecessary. The words 
``in accordance with this section, on and after April 1, 1975'' are 
omitted as executed.
    In subsection (c), the words ``except as otherwise provided in this 
paragraph'' are omitted as surplus. The text of 49 App.:1902(b)(2) (4th 
sentence) is omitted as executed.
    In subsection (d), the words ``On or before January 1, 1976'' are 
omitted as executed. The words ``(and thereafter as required)'' and 
``(hereafter in this chapter referred to as the `Chairman')'' are 
omitted as unnecessary.
    In subsection (e), before clause (1), the words ``is the chief 
executive and administrative officer of the Board'' are substituted for 
``shall be the chief executive officer of the Board and shall exercise 
the executive and administrative functions of the Board'' for clarity. 
The words ``Subject to the general policies and decisions of the Board, 
the Chairman shall'' are substituted for 49 App.:1902(b)(3) (last 
sentence) to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (1), the words 
``Subject to the civil service and classification laws'' are omitted as 
unnecessary because of title 5, United States Code, especially sections 
3301, 5101, and 5331. The words ``the Board is authorized'' are omitted 
for consistency because the authority to appoint officers and employees 
is vested in the Chairman subject to the ``general policies and 
decisions of the Board'' as provided in the source provisions. The words 
``including investigators, attorneys, and administrative law judges'' 
are omitted as covered by ``officers and employees''. The words ``carry 
out this chapter'' are substituted for ``carry out its powers and duties 
under this chapter'' to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (3), the 
words ``expenditures of the Board'' are substituted for ``the use and 
expenditure of funds'' for clarity.
    In subsection (f), the words ``duties and powers'' are substituted 
for ``function'' for consistency in the revised title and with other 
titles of the Code.
    In subsection (g), the text of 49 App.:1902(c)(1) is omitted as 
unnecessary because of 40:ch. 10.
