7 U.S.C. § 7312 — Composition

(a) Membership and appointment The Commission must be composed of 11 members, appointed as follows: (1) The President must appoint three members. (2) The Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives must appoint four members in consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee. (3) The Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate must appoint four members in consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee. (b) Qualifications At least 1 of the members appointed under each of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) must be an individual who is primarily involved in production agriculture. All other members of the Commission must be appointed from among individuals having knowledge and experience in agricultural production, marketing, finance, or trade. This section does not define “primarily involved in production agriculture,” “agricultural production,” “marketing,” “finance,” or “trade.” (c) Term of members; vacancies A member of the Commission must be appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy on the Commission must not affect its powers, but must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (d) Time for appointment; first meeting The members of the Commission must be appointed not later than October 1, 1997. The Commission must convene its first meeting to carry out its duties under this subchapter 30 days after 6 members of the Commission have been appointed. (e) Chairperson The chairperson of the Commission must be designated jointly by the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate from among the members of the Commission.