10 U.S.C. § 8468 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 8468. Board of Visitors
(a) A Board of Visitors to the Academy is constituted annually of—
(1) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of such chair;
(2) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, or the designee of the ranking member;
(3) two other members of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(4) two other members of the Senate designated by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(5) the chair of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of such chair;
(6) the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, or the designee of the ranking member;
(7) two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom is a member of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(8) two other members of the House of Representatives designated by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and
(9) six persons designated by the President.
(b) The persons designated by the President serve for three years each except that any member whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed by the President. The President shall designate two persons each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year.
(c) If a member of the Board dies or resigns, a successor shall be designated for the unexpired portion of the term by the official who designated the member.
(d) The Board shall visit the Academy annually. With the approval of the Secretary of the Navy, the Board or its members may make other visits to the Academy in connection with the duties of the Board or to consult with the Superintendent of the Academy.
(e) The Board shall inquire into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider.
(f) Within 60 days after its annual visit, the Board shall submit a written report to the President and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives of its action and of its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Any report of a visit, other than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the Board, be submitted to the President and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives within 60 days after the approval.
(g) Upon approval by the Secretary, the Board may call in advisers for consultation.
(h) While performing his duties, each member of the Board and each adviser shall be reimbursed under Government travel regulations for his travel expenses.
(i)
(1) A majority of the members of the Board may call an official meeting of the Board once per year.
(2) A member may attend such meeting—
(A) in person, at the Academy; or
(B) remotely, at the election of such member.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 434, § 6968; Pub. L. 96–579, § 13(b), Dec. 23, 1980, 94 Stat. 3369; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, § 1061(e)(2), title XV, § 1502(a)(12), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 443, 503; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 774; renumbered § 8468, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(c)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1836; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, §§ 554(b), 555(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1738, 1739; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 558(b), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1898; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, § 557(b), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 879.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
6968(a), (b)
34 U.S.C. 1083.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 1, 62 Stat. 1094.
34 U.S.C. 1084.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 2, 62 Stat. 1094.
6968(c)
34 U.S.C. 1085.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 3, 62 Stat. 1094.
6968(d)
34 U.S.C. 1086.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 4, 62 Stat. 1094; June 30, 1954, ch. 432, § 732, 68 Stat. 356.
6968(e), (f), (g)
34 U.S.C. 1087.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 5, 62 Stat. 1094.
6968(h)
34 U.S.C. 1088.
June 29, 1948, ch. 714, § 6, 62 Stat. 1094.
In subsection (a) the words “A Board of Visitors to the Naval Academy is constituted annually” are substituted for the words “There shall be appointed * * * every year a Board of Visitors”, since appointments, in the strict sense, are not involved.
In subsection (b) the language establishing staggered terms is eliminated as executed, and the existence of such terms is recognized by the use of the words “two persons shall be designated by him each year to succeed the members whose terms expire that year”. No effect is given to the language “the nine Presidential appointees”. The hearings indicate that one of the bills considered provided for nine such “appointees”, and it appears that the number nine was inadvertently retained. The provision specifically authorizes only six Presidential designees.
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “two other members” for “one other member”.
2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–159, § 558(b)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which related to membership of Board of Visitors.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–159, § 558(b)(2), inserted “and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives” after “the President” in two places.
2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–81, § 554(b), substituted “is appointed by the President” for “is appointed”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117–81, § 555(b), added subsec. (i).
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 6968 of this title as this section.
1999—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “Committee on Armed Services” for “Committee on National Security”.
1996—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1502(a)(12), substituted “National Security” for “Armed Services”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1061(e)(2), struck out “is entitled to not more than $5 a day and” after “each adviser”.
1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–579 required member whose term of office had expired to continue service until appointment of a successor.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.