VII. HOOVER COMMISSION ACTS AND AMENDMENTS A. Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (61 Stat. 246) This act was the result of the enactment of H.R. 775, 80th Congress. It was approved on July 7, 1947, as Public Law 162, 80th Congress. The text of the act appears in volume 61, Statutes at Large, pages 246– 248. A. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAW 162, 80TH CONGRESS 1. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD REFERENCES TO DEBATES, ETC.. (Page citations are to vol. 93, Congressional Record) H.R. 775: For the establishment of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government. Mr. Brown of Ohio; Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, 262. Reported back (H. Rept. 704), 7676. Passed House, 7755. Ordered placed on Senate Calendar, 7788. Passed Senate (in lieu of S. 164), 7804. Examined and signed, 7856, 7905. Presented to the President, 7964. Approved (Public Law 162), 8328. (Page citations are to vol. 92, Congressional Record) S. 164: For the establishment of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government. Mr. Lodge; Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments, 267. Reported back (S. Rept. 344), 7580. Indefinitely postponed (H.R. 775 passed in lieu), 7804. 2. SERIAL NUMBERS TO BOUND VOLUMES OF CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS RELATING TO PUBLIC LAW 162, 80TH CONGRESS House Report 704, 80th Congress, 11121. Senate Report 344, 80th Congress, 11115. 3. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS RELATING TO PUBLIC LAW 162, Senate Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments: Commission on Organization of Executive Branch of the Government, March 13, 1947, on S. 164. House Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments: Executive reorganization, create commission, June 25, 1947, on H.R. 775. July 7, 1947 (H. R. 778] Public Law 162] B. TEXT OF PUBLIC LAW 162, 80TH CONGRESS AN ACT For the establishment of the Commission' on Organization of the Executive Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commission on Or United States of America in Congress assembled, ganization of the Ex- DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to promote economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public business in the departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, coinmissions, offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government by (1) limiting expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient performance of essential services, activities, and functions; (2) eliminating duplication and overlapping of services, activties, and functions; (3) consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar nature; (4) abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of government; and (5) defining and limiting executive functions, services, and activities. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth in section 1 of this Act, there is hereby established a bipartisan commission to be known as the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION SEO. 3. (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.-The Commission shall be composed of twelve members as follows: (1) Four appointed by the President of the United States,, two from the executive branch of the Government and two from private life; (2) Four appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, two from the Senate and two from private life; and (3) Four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two from the House of Representatives and two from private life. (b) Political affiliation. Of each class of two members mentioned in subsection (a), not more than one member shall be from each of the two major political parties. (c) VACANCIES. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 4. The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among its members. QUORUM SEC. 5. Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SEO. 6. (a) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.-Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (b) MEMBERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.-The members of the Commission who are in the executive branch of the Government shall each receive the compensation which he would receive if he were not a member of the Commission, plus such additional compensation, if any (notwithstanding section 6 of the Act of May 10, 1916, as amended; 39 Stat. 582; 5 U. S. C. 58), as is necessary to make his aggregate salary $12,500; and they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (c) MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE LIFE-The members from private life shall cach receive $50 per diem when engaged in the performance of dutics vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of such duties. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION SEO. 7. The Commission shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, in accordance with the provisions of the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 8. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, so much as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Post, p. 940. 42 Stat. 1488. U. B. O. 661-674. Appropriation an. thorized. Post, p. 696. EXPIRATION OF TIIE COMMISSION SEO. 9. Ninety days after the submission to the Congress of the report provided for in section 10 (b), the Commission shall cease to cxist. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 10. (a) INVESTIGATION.-The Commission shall study and investigate the present organization and methods of operation of all departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, offices, indepondent establishments, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government, to determine what changes therein are necessary in their opinion to accomplish the purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act. (b) REPORT.-Within ten days after the Eighty-first Congress is convened and organized, the Commission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Congress. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 11. (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.-The Commission, or any member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, and take such testimony, as the Commission or such member may deem advisable. Any member of the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or before such member. (b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.-The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this Act; and each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman. Approved July 7, 1947. B. To Extend for 60 Days the Time Within Which the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government May Make a Report of Its Findings and Recommendations, and for Other Purposes (62 Stat. 1292) This act was the result of the enactment of House Joint Resolution 448, 80th Congress. It was approved on December 31, 1948, as Public Law 906, 80th Congress. The text of the public law appears in volume 62, Statutes at Large, page 1292. A. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF PUBLIC LAW 906, 80TH CONGRESS 1. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD REFERENCES TO DEBATES, ETC. (Page citations are to vol. 94, Congressional Record) House Joint Resolution 448: To extend for 60 days the time within which the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government may make a report of the findings and recommendations, and for other purposes. Mr. Brown; passed House, 10264. Passed Senate, 10257. Examined and signed, 10262, 10273. Presented to the President, 10273. Approved (Public Law 906), 10273. 2. SERIAL NUMBERS TO BOUND VOLUMES OF CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS RELATING TO PUBLIC LAW 906, 80TH CONGRESS No written reports. 3. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS RELATING TO PUBLIC LAW 906, (None found.) 80TH CONGRESS 71-440 0-66 -12 |