22 U.S.C. § 6431 — Establishment and composition

(a) The United States Commission^* on International Religious Freedom is established.

(b) Membership. (1) The Commission has the Ambassador at Large^* as an ex officio, nonvoting member and nine other members. The nine must be United States citizens who are not paid United States officers or employees. Three are appointed by the President. Three are appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate: two on the recommendation of the Senate leader of the party other than the President’s party, and one on the recommendation of the other party’s leader. Three are appointed by the House Speaker: two on the recommendation of the House leader of the party other than the President’s party, and one on the recommendation of the other party’s leader. (2) Members must be distinguished people with knowledge and experience relevant to international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct overseas experience, human rights, or international law. (3) The appointments had to be made within 120 days after October 27, 1998.

(c) Terms. (1) A term is two years. No person, including one appointed before December 23, 2011, may serve more than two terms under any circumstance. A member serving on that date who had completed at least two full terms ended 90 days after that date. A member may not serve after the term expires. (2) Members appointed from May 15, 2003 through May 14, 2005 receive staggered terms: two Presidential appointees serve one year and one serves two; one Senate appointment recommended by the opposition-party leader serves one year and the other two serve two; and one House appointment recommended by the opposition-party leader serves one year and the other two serve two. One-year terms run from May 15, 2003 to May 14, 2004 regardless of appointment date, and their vacancies receive two-year successors. A two-year appointment must identify the member succeeded, and its term ends May 14 of the year at least two years after the prior term. (3) A member attending less than 75 percent of Commission meetings during a term cannot be reappointed.

(d) At the first meeting after May 30 each year, present and voting members elect a Chair and Vice Chair by majority vote. The Vice Chair must have been appointed by an officeholder of a different political party from the Chair’s appointing officeholder. The Chair and Vice Chair rotate each year between members appointed by officeholders of different parties.

(e) Six voting members are a quorum.

(f) Each year the Commission meets within 15 days, or as soon as practicable, after the International Religious Freedom Report is issued. Otherwise the Chair calls meetings, or, if no Chair was elected that year, six voting members call them.

(g) A vacancy does not reduce the Commission’s powers. It is filled in the original appointment manner. A member may serve until a successor takes office^*. A successor for a vacancy before the predecessor’s term ended serves only the rest of that term.

(h) The Administrator of General Services must provide requested administrative support on a reimbursable basis, or, at the Administrator’s discretion, without reimbursement.

(i) Members receive authorized travel expenses, including per diem, while serving the Commission away from home or their regular business places. They must follow the cited Federal Travel Regulation chapters and Department of State travel regulations on travel mode, lodging, per diem, reimbursements, reporting, and documentation.

(j) If a payment is made under section 415(a) of the Congressional Accountability Act for an award or settlement concerning unlawful harassment, intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination committed personally by a Commission member while serving, that member must be removed.