Commemorative Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Funding (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Feb. 2, 2023 |
| Report Number |
R41425 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Matthew Eric Glassman and Jacob R. Straus, Analysts on the Congress |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
Commemorative commissions are entities established to
oversee the commemoration of a
person
or event
. These commissions
typically
coordinate celebrations, scholarly events, public
gatherings, and other activities
, often to coincide with a milestone anniversary
. For example, the
Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission was cre
ated “to prepare a
comprehensive program for commemorating the quincentennial of the voyages of discovery of
Christopher Columbus, and to plan
,
encourage, coordinate, and conduct observances and
activities commemorating the historic events associated with those voyages.”
Using a dataset of all
commemorative commissions created by statute since the 96
th
Congress
(1979
-
1980)
, t
his report examines t
he content of typical legislative language used to create
commemorative commission
s
and how commemorative commissions are funded. T
his report
does not address non
commemorative congressional commissions, nor does it address
commemorative ent
ities created by
the P
resident or statutory commissions tasked with designing
and building monuments and memorials in Washington, DC.
Statutes establishing commemorative commissions generally include language that states the
mandate of the commission, provides a membershi
p and appointment structure, outlines the
commission’s duties and powers, and sets a termination date for the commission. A variety of
options are available for each of these organizational choices, and legislators can tailor the
composition, organization,
and working arrangements of a commission, based on the particular
goals of Congress. As a result, the organizational structure and powers of individual commissions
are often unique.
Commemorative commissions have been funded in two ways: through appropria
tions
or through
solicitation of nonf
ederal money. At times, commissions are authorized both for appropriations
and to fundraise or accept donations. In addition, some commemorative commissions are not
provided with explicit authorization to solicit funds
or accept donations.
Commissions without
the statutor
y authority to solicit funds or accept donations are generally prohibited from engaging
in those activities.
For general information on congressional commissions, see
CRS Report R40076,
Congressional
Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations
, by Jacob R. Straus
.
