An Act for the establishment of the Commission on Governmental Operations
PL 83-108 (S.106), enacted 07/10/1953

142 
PUBLIC LAW 107-JULY 9, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
shall be in full discharge for any services rendered by him to the House 
of Representatives during such period of concurrent service. 
Approved July 9, 1953. 
Public Law 107 
CHAPTER 183 
July 9, 1953 
[S. 694] 
U. S. flag. 
Display. 
56 Stat. 1075. 
AN ACT 
To prohibit the display of flags of international organizations or other nations 
in equal or superior prominence or honor to the flag of the United States 
except under specified circumstances, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 3 (c) 
of the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution to codify and empha-
size existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of 
the flag of the United States of America", approved June 22, 1942, 
as amended (36 U. S. C , sec. 175 (c)), is amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new sentence: 
"No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other 
national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior 
prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States 
at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession 
thereof: Provided^ That nothing in this section shall make unlawful 
the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the 
flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or 
honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or 
honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters 
of the United Nations." 
Approved July 9, 1953. 
July 10, 1953 
CS. 106] 
Commission 
o n 
Organization of the 
Executive Branch 
of the Government. 
Public Law 108 
CHAPTER 184 
AN ACT 
For the establishment of a Commission on Governmental Operations. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a^semhled., 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to 
promote economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction 
of the public business in the departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, 
commissions, offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities 
of the executive branch of the Government by— 
(1) recommending methods and procedures for 
reducing 
expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient 
performance of essential services, activities, and functions ; 
(2) eliminating duplication and overlapping of services, activi-
ties, and functions; 
(3) consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar 
nature; 
(4) abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary 
to the efficient conduct of government; 
(5) eliminating nonessential services, functions, and activities 
which are competitive with private enterprise; 
(6) defining responsibilities of officials; and 
62 S t a t . 6 9 7 , 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 108-JULY 10, 1953 
143 
(7) relocating agencies now responsible directly to the Presi-
dent in departments or other agencies. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF T H E COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF T H E 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
SEC. 2. (a) P'or the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth in 
section 1 of this Act, there is hereby established a commission to be 
known as the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch 
of the Government (in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). 
(b) Service of an individual as a member of the Commission or 
employment of an individual by the Commission as an attorney or 
expert in any business or professional field, on a part-time or full-time 
basis, with or without compensation, shall not be considered as service 
or employment bringing such individual within the provisions of sec-
tion 281, 283, 284, 434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code, 7o|f 793.' 
or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 99). 
MEMBERSHIP OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 3. (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 
composed of twelve members as follows: 
(1) Four appointed by the President of the United States, two from 
the executive branch of the Government and two from private life; 
(2) Four appointed by the President of the Senate, two from the 
Senate and two from private life; and 
(3) Four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, two from the House of Representatives and two from private 
life. 
(b) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect 
its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
ORGANIZATION OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chair-
man from among its members. 
QUORUM 
SEC. 5. Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum. 
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 6. (a) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—Members of Congress who are 
members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addi-
tion to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but 
they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in 
the Commission. 
(b) MEMBERS FROM THE EXECUITVE BRANCH.—The members of the 
Commission who are in the executive branch of the Government shall 
serve without compensation in addition to that received for their 
services in the executive branch, but they shall be reimbursed for 
travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. 
(c) MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE LIFE.—The members from private life 
shall each receive $50 per diem when engaged in the actual perform-
ance of duties vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, 
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the 
performance of such duties. 
144 
PUBLIC LAW 108-JULY10, 1953 
[67 S T A T . 
STAFF OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 7. (a) The Commission shall have power to appoint and fix the 
compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, without regard 
to the provisions of the civil service laws and the Classification Act of 
63 Stat. 954. 
1949, as amended, 
us 
note. 
^1^^ rpj^^ Commission may procure, without regard to the civil-
service laws and the classification laws, temporary and intermittent 
services to the same extent as is authorized for the departments by 
5 use 55a. 
section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 Stat. 810), but at rates 
not to exceed $50 per diem for individuals. 
EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 8. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, so much as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
DUTIES o r THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 9. (a) INVESTIGATION.—The Commission shall study and inves-
tigate the present organization and methods of operation of all 
departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, offices, inde-
pendent establishments, and instrumentalities of the Government 
except the Judiciary and the Congress of the United States to determine 
what changes therein are necessary in their opinion to accomplish the 
purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act. 
(b) REPORT.—The Commission shall submit interim reports at such 
time, or times, as the Commission deems necessary, shall submit a com-
prehensive report of its activities and the results of its studies to the 
Congress on or before December 31, 1954, and shall submit its final 
report not later than May 31,1955, at which date the Commission shall 
cease to exist. The Final Report of the Commission may propose such 
constitutional amendments, legislative enactments and administrative 
actions as in its judgment are necessary to carry out its recommenda-
tions. 
POWERS O F T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 10. (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission or, on the 
authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, 
may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold 
such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, administer 
such oaths, and require, by subpeiia or otherwise, the attendance and 
testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, 
correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commis-
sion or such subcommittee or member may deem advisable. Subpenas 
may be issued under the signature of the Chairman of the Commis-
sion, of such subcommittee, or any duly designated member, and may 
be served by any person designated by such Chairman or member. 
The provisions of sections 102 to 104, inclusive, of the Revised Statutes 
{U. S. C , title 2, sees. 192-194), shall apply in the case of any failure 
of any witness to comply with any subpena or to testify when sum-
moned under authority of this section. 
(b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—^The Commission is authorized 
to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, 
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumen-
tality information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the pur-
pose of this Act; and each such department, bureau, agency, board, 
commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and 
67 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 109-JULY 10, 1953 
145 
directed to furnish such information, sugg^tionS, estimates, and 
statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chair-
man or Vice Chairman. 
Approved July 10, 1953. 
Public Law 109 
CHAPTER 185 
AN ACT 
To establish a Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That— 
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE 
SECTION 1. Because any existing confusion and wasteful duplication 
of functions and administration pose a threat to the objectives of pro-
grams of the Federal Government shared in by the States, including 
their political subdivisions, because the activity of the Federal Gov-
ernment has been extended into many fields which, under our con-
stitutional system, may be the primary interest and obligation of the 
several States and the subdivisions thereof, and because of the result-
ing complexity to intergovernmental relations, it is necessary to study 
the proper role of the Federal Government in relation to the States 
and their political subdivisions, with respect to such fields, to the end 
that these relations may be clearly defined and the functions concerned 
may be allocated to their proper jurisdiction. It is further necessary 
that intergovernmental fiscal relations be so adjusted that each level 
of government discharges the functions which belong within its juris-
diction in a sound and effective manner. 
COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 
SEC. 2. (a) For the purpose of carrying out this Act there is hereby 
established a commission to be known as the Commission on Inter-
governmental Relations, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission". 
(b) The Commission shall be composed of tw^enty-five members, as 
follows: 
(1) Fifteen members appointed by the President of the United 
States, from among whom the President shall designate the Chairman 
and the Vice Chairman of the Commission: Provided, That not more 
than nine of the members appointed by the President shall be members 
of the same political party; 
(2) Five members appointed by the President of the Senate, three 
from the majority party, and two from the minority party; and 
(3) Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, three from the majority party, and two from the minority 
party. 
(c) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(d) Thirteen members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, 
but a lesser number may conduct hearings. 
(e) Service of an individual as a member of the Commission or 
employment of an individual by the Commission as an attorney or 
expert in any business or professional field, on a part-time or full-time 
basis, with or without compensation, shall not be considered as service 
or employment bringing such individual within the provisions of sec-
tions 281, 283, 284, 434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code, 
or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U. S. C. 99). 
July 10, 1953 
[S. 1514] 
Commission o n 
Intergo 
vernme nt al 
Relations. 
Members. 
Vacancy, 
Quorum. 
62 Stat. 697, 703, 
793.