---
kind: "range"
citation: "42 U.S.C. §§ 1975–1975d"
title: "42"
from: "1975"
to: "1975d"
count: 5
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1975..1975d"
---

# §1975. Establishment of Commission

- (a) **Generally—** There is established the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) on Civil Rights (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “[Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)”).
- (b) **Membership—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) 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](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be the members of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) on Civil Rights on September 30, 1994. Thereafter vacancies in the membership of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall continue to be appointed as follows:
  - (1) 4 members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be appointed by the President.
  - (2) 2 members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, upon the recommendations of the majority leader and the [minority](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2) leader, and of the members appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same political party.
  - (3) 2 members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) upon the recommendations of the majority leader and the [minority](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2) leader, and of the members appointed not more than one shall be appointed from the same political party.
- (c) **Terms—** The term of [office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of each member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be 6 years. The term of each member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) in the initial membership of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall expire on the date such term would have expired as of September 30, 1994.
- (d) **Chairperson—**
  - (1) Except as provided in paragraphs [(2)](#d-2) and [(3)](#d-3), the individuals serving as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) on Civil Rights on September 30, 1994 shall initially fill those roles on the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
  - (2) Thereafter the President may, with the concurrence of a majority of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)’s members, designate a Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, as the case may be, from among the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)’s members.
  - (3) The President shall, with the concurrence of a majority of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)’s members, fill a vacancy by designating a Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, as the case may be, from among the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)’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](/usc/42/9601.md?p=23) a member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in [office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1).
- (f) **Quorum—** 5 members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) constitute a quorum of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).

# §1975a. Duties of Commission

- (a) **Generally—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1)—
  - (1) shall investigate allegations in writing under oath or affirmation relating to deprivations—
    - (A) because of color, race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin; or
    - (B) as a result of any pattern or practice of fraud;

    of the right of citizens of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) to vote and have votes counted; and

  - (2) shall—
    - (A) study and collect information relating to;
    - (B) make appraisals of the laws and policies of the Federal Government with respect to;
    - (C) serve as a national clearinghouse for information relating to; and
    - (D) prepare public service announcements and advertising campaigns to discourage;

    discrimination or denials of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) because of color, race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

- (b) **Limitations on investigatory duties—** Nothing in this chapter or any other Act shall be construed as authorizing the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), its [advisory committees](/usc/42/7703.md?p=9), or any [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) under its supervision or control, to inquire into or investigate any membership [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) or internal operations of any fraternal organization, any college or university fraternity or sorority, any private club, or any religious organization.
- (c) **Reports—**
  - (1) **Annual report—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall submit to the President and Congress at least one report annually that monitors Federal civil rights enforcement efforts in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
  - (2) **Other reports generally—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall submit such other reports to the President and the Congress as the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), the Congress, or the President shall deem appropriate.
- (d) **Advisory committees—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may constitute such [advisory committees](/usc/42/7703.md?p=9) as it deems advisable. The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall establish at least one such committee in each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and the District of Columbia composed of citizens of that [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or District.
- (e) **Hearings and ancillary matters—**
  - (1) **Power to hold hearings—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), or on the [authorization](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=3) of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), any subcommittee of two or more members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), at least one of whom shall be of each major political party, may, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, hold such hearings and act at such times and places as the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) or such authorized subcommittee deems advisable. Each member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations in connection with the proceedings of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1). The holding of a hearing by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) or the appointment of a subcommittee to hold a hearing pursuant to this paragraph must be approved by a majority of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), or by a majority of the members present at a meeting when a quorum is present.
  - (2) **Power to issue subpoenas—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of written or other matter. Such a subpoena may not require the presence of a witness more than 100 miles outside the place wherein the witness is found or resides or is domiciled or transacts business, or has appointed an agent for receipt of service of process. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena, the [Attorney General](/usc/42/14902.md?p=6) may in a Federal court of appropriate jurisdiction obtain an appropriate order to enforce the subpoena.
  - (3) **Witness fees—** A witness attending any proceeding of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
  - (4) **Depositions and interrogatories—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may use depositions and written interrogatories to obtain information and testimony about matters that are the subject of a [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) hearing or report.
- (f) **Limitation relating to abortion—** Nothing in this chapter or any other Act shall be construed as authorizing the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), its [advisory committees](/usc/42/7703.md?p=9), or any other [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) under its supervision or control to study and collect, make appraisals of, or serve as a clearinghouse for any information about laws and policies of the Federal Government or any other governmental authority in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), with respect to abortion.

# §1975b. Administrative provisions

- (a) **Staff—**
  - (1) **Director—** There shall be a full-time staff [director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) for the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) who shall—
    - (A) serve as the administrative head of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1); and
    - (B) be appointed by the President with the concurrence of a majority of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Other personnel—** Within the limitation of its appropriations, the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may—
    - (A) appoint such other personnel as it deems advisable, under the civil service and classification laws; and
    - (B) procure services, as authorized in [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md), but at rates for individuals not in excess of the daily equivalent paid for positions at the maximum rate for GS–15 of the General Schedule under [section 5332 of title 5](/usc/5/5332.md).
- (b) **Compensation of members—**
  - (1) **Generally—** Each member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) who is not otherwise in the service of the Government of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) shall receive a sum equivalent to the compensation paid at level IV of the Executive Schedule under [section 5315 of title 5](/usc/5/5315.md), prorated on a daily basis for time spent in the work of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Persons otherwise in Government service—** Each member of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) who is otherwise in the service of the Government of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for such other service, but while engaged in the work of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall be paid actual travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from such member’s usual place of residence, under subchapter I of [chapter 57](/usc/5/chptIII-sptD-ch57.md) of title 5.
- (c) **Voluntary or uncompensated personnel—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) shall not accept or use the services of voluntary or uncompensated [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i). This limitation shall apply with respect to services of members of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) as it does with respect to services by other [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i).
- (d) **Rules—**
  - (1) **Generally—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) may make such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
  - (2) **Continuation of old rules—** Except as inconsistent with this chapter, and until [modified](/usc/42/7501.md?p=4) by the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), the rules of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) on Civil Rights in effect on September 30, 1994 shall be the initial rules of the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
- (e) **Cooperation—** All Federal agencies shall cooperate fully with the [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1) to the end that it may effectively carry out its functions and duties.

# §1975c. Authorization of appropriations


There are authorized to be appropriated,[^1] to carry out this chapter $9,500,000 for fiscal year 1995. None of the sums authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1995 may be used to create additional regional [offices](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1).


# §1975d. Termination


This chapter shall terminate on September 30, 1996.