20 U.S.C. § 955: National Council on the Arts

There shall be, within the National Endowment for the Arts, a National Council on the Arts (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Council”). The Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, who shall be the chairperson of the Council. Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Two Senator 1 appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate. 1 So in original. Probably should be “Senators”. One Senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. are widely recognized for their broad knowledge of, or expertise in, or for their profound interest in the arts; and have established records of distinguished service, or achieved eminence, in the arts; so as to include practicing artists, civic cultural leaders, members of the museum profession, and others who are professionally engaged in the arts; and so as collectively to provide an appropriate distribution of membership among major art fields and interested citizens groups. Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1)(B), members first appointed pursuant to such subsection shall be appointed not later than December 31, 1997 . Notwithstanding such subsection, such members shall be appointed to serve until December 31, 1998 . Members of the Council serving on the effective date of this subsection may continue to serve on the Council until their current terms expire and new members shall not be appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) until the number of Presidentially appointed members is less than 14. Each member appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) shall hold office for a term of six years, and the terms of office shall be staggered. The terms of office of all Council members appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) shall expire on the third day of September in the year of expiration. No member appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) shall be eligible for reappointment during the two-year period following the expiration of such member’s term. Any member appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) appointed 2 to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which such member’s predecessor was appointed. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a member appointed under subsection (b)(1)(C) shall serve after the expiration of such member’s term until such member’s successor takes office. 2 So in original. The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairperson but not less often than twice during each calendar year. Ten members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. All policy meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. all meetings and discussions of the Council; and the recommendations made by the Council to the Chairperson; and make such records available to the public in a manner that protects the privacy of individual applicants, panel members, and Council members. Members shall receive compensation at a rate to be fixed by the Chairperson but not to exceed the per diem equivalent of the rate authorized for grade GS–18 by section 5332 of title 5 and be allowed travel expenses including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law ( section 5703 of title 5 ) for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. whether to approve particular applications for financial assistance under subsections (c) and (p) of section 954 of this title that are determined by panels under section 959(c) of this title to have artistic excellence and artistic merit; and the amount of financial assistance the Chairperson should provide with respect to each such application the Council recommends for approval.