To establish a commission to encourage, plan, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the bicentennial of the Constitution. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 16, 1981 Mr. MATHIAS (for himself, Mr. ROTH, Mr. PELL, Mr. HARRY F. BYRD, JR., and Mr. NUNN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To establish a commission to encourage, plan, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the bicentennial of the Constitution. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That as this Nation approaches the bicentennial of the adop4 tion of its Constitution and the historic events preceding and 5 associated with its preparation and ratification (events having 6 a profound influence throughout the world and a major sig7 nificance in the development of our national heritage of indi8 vidual liberty, representative government, and equal and in 2 1 alienable rights) it is appropriate and desirable to provide for 2 the observation and commemoration of this anniversary and 3 these events through local, State, national, and international 4 activities encouraged, planned, developed, and coordinated by 5 a national commission. 6 SEC. 2. There is established a commission to be known 7 as the Commission for the Commemoration of the Bicenten8 nial of the United States Constitution (hereafter in this Act 9 referred to as the "Commission") to encourage, plan, devel10 op, and coordinate the commemoration of the bicentennial of 11 the Constitution. 12 SEC. 3. (a)(1) The Commission shall prepare an overall 13 program for commemorating the bicentennial of the Constitu14 tion and shall encourage, plan, develop, and coordinate ob15 servances and activities commemorating the historic events 16 that preceded and are associated with the Constitution. 17 (2) In preparing its plans and programs, the Commission 18 shall consider any related plans and programs developed by 19 State, local, and private groups and may designate special 20 committees of such groups to plan, develop, and coordinate 21 specific activities. 22 (b) In carrying out this Act, the Commission shall em23 phasize the constitutional values, ideals, and principles which 24 have been important in the development of American democ 3 1 racy, in influencing ideas throughout the world, and in ad 2 vancing mankind's quest for freedom. SEC. 4. (a) The Commission shall consist of (1) four members appointed by the President from among Members of the Senate recommended to the President by the President of the Senate; (2) four members appointed by the President from among Members of the House of Representatives recommended to the President by the Speaker of the House; (3) nineteen members appointed by the President (A) after consulting the American Historical Association; the American Political Science Association; the Institute of Early American History and Culture; the ing the contributions by the Nation's youth, women, el 1 2 3 4 5 6 བ 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 4 derly, racial and ethnic minorities, artists, craftsmen, and learned professionals to the writing and adoption of the Constitution; and (4) as ex officio members, the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services; the Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Archivist of the United States, the Chairman of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. (b) The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated 15 by the President from among the members appointed pursu 16 ant to paragraph (3) of subsection (a). 17 (c) Members of the Commission shall be appointed for 18 the life of the Commission. An individual appointed as a 19 member pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (4), shall retain 20 membership on the Commission only while the individual 21 maintains the status which is the basis of such membership. 22 (d) A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 23 manner in which the original appointment was made. A 24 member may retain membership on the Commission until his 25 successor has been appointed. 5 1 SEC. 5. (a) Members of the Commission shall receive no 2 pay on account of their service on the Commission. 3 (b) Subject to the availability of appropriations, while 4 away from their homes or regular places of business in the 5 performance of services for the Commission, members of the 6 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 7 diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons 8 employed intermittently in the Government service are al9 lowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the United 10 States Code. 11 SEC. 6. (a) The Commission shall appoint a Director 12 who shall be paid not to exceed the rate of basic pay in effect 13 for level V of the Executive Schedule. 14 (b)(1) In addition, the Commission may appoint a staff 15 consisting of 16 17 18 19 (A) not more than ten staff members before Octo ber 1, 1982; and (B) not more than fifteen staff members after September 30, 1982. 20 (2) Personnel appointed under paragraph (1) of this sub21 section shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, 22 United States Code, governing appointments in the competi23 tive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provi24 sions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such 25 title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. |