---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 473"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "473"
heading: "Technology Assessment Board"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/473"
units:
  - "Chapter 15 — Office of Technology Assessment"
---

# §473. Technology Assessment Board

- (a) **Membership—** The [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) shall consist of thirteen [members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) as follows:
  - (1) six [Members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the Senate, appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, three from the majority party and three from the minority party;
  - (2) six [Members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three from the majority party and three from the minority party; and
  - (3) the Director, who shall not be a voting [member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2).
- (b) **Execution of functions during vacancies; filling of vacancies—** Vacancies in the membership of the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) shall not affect the power of the remaining [members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) to execute the functions of the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) and shall be filled in the same manner as in the case of the original appointment.
- (c) **Chairman and vice chairman; selection procedure—** The [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from among its [members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) at the beginning of each Congress. The vice chairman shall act in the place and stead of the chairman in the absence of the chairman. The chairmanship and the vice chairmanship shall alternate between the Senate and the House of Representatives with each Congress. The chairman during each even-numbered Congress shall be selected by the [Members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of the House of Representatives on the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) from among their number. The vice chairman during each Congress shall be chosen in the same manner from that House of Congress other than the House of Congress of which the chairman is a [Member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2).
- (d) **Meetings; powers of Board—** The [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) is authorized to sit and act at such places and times during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of Congress, and upon a vote of a majority of its [members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2), to require by subpena or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, to administer such oaths and affirmations, to take such testimony, to procure such printing and binding, and to make such expenditures, as it deems advisable. The [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) may make such rules respecting its organization and procedures as it deems necessary, except that no recommendation shall be reported from the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) unless a majority of the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) assent. Subpenas may be issued over the signature of the chairman of the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) or of any voting [member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) designated by him or by the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2), and may be served by such person or persons as may be designated by such chairman or [member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2). The chairman of the [Board](/usc/2/179u.md?p=2) or any voting [member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) thereof may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–484, § 4, Oct. 13, 1972, 86 Stat. 798.)