Congressional Commissions, Committees, Boards, and Groups: Appointment Authority and Membership

Over the past several decades, Congress, by statute, has established a wide array of commissions, boards, and advisory bodies to provide assistance in meeting various legislative, investigative, and administrative responsibilities. These entities are generally temporary and created to serve specific functions, such as studying a discreet policy area or performing one-time or recurring administrative tasks. The majority of these congressional bodies provide that Members of Congress, particularly the leadership, be intimately involved in the appointment process, either through direct service on a commission, or by appointing or recommending candidates for membership. This book examines the range of alternative membership appointment schemes exhibited by more than 75 such bodies currently in existence.