Joint resolution to establish a Commission on Government Security
PL 84-304 (H.J.Res.157), enacted 08/09/1955

69 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 304-AUG. 9, 1955 
595 
Public Law 304 
CHAPTER 664 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
August 9, 1955 
To establish a Commission on Government Security. 
[H. j . Res, i57] 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled.) 
DECLARATION OF POLICY 
SECTION 1. It is vital to the welfare and safety of the United States 
that there be adequate protection of the national security, including 
the safeguarding of all national defense secrets and public and private 
defense installations, against loss or compromise arising from espion-
age, sabotage, disloyalty, subversive activities, or unauthorized dis-
closures. 
It is, therefore, the policy of the Congress that there shall exist a 
sound Government program— 
(a) establishing procedures for security investigation, evalua-
tion, and, where necessary, adjudication of Government em-
ployees, and also appropriate security requirements with respect 
to persons privately employed or occupied on work requiring 
access to national defense secrets or work affording significant 
opportunity for injury to the national security; 
(b) for vigorous enforcement of effective and realistic security 
laws and regulations; and 
(c) for a careful, consistent, and efficient administration of 
this policy in a manner which will protect the national security 
and preserve basic American rights. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENT SECURITY 
SEC. 2. (a) For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth 
in the first section of this joint resolution, there is hereby established 
a commission to be known as the Commission on Government Security 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Commission"). 
(b) The Commission shall be composed of twelve members as fol-
lows: 
(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 Representatives, 
two from the House of Representatives and two from private life. 
(c) Of the members appointed to the Commission not more than 
two shall be appointed by the President of the United States, or the 
President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives from the same political party. 
(d) 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. 
(e) Service of an individual as a member of the Commission or em-
ployment 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 section 
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). 
Commission on 
Government Se-
curity* 
62 Stat. 697. 
596 
PUBLIC LAW 304-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 ST A T , 
(f) The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman 
from among its members. 
(g) Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 
Each subcommittee of the Commission shall consist of at least three 
members of the Commission. 
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION 
SEC. 3. (a) Members of the Congress who are members of the Com-
mission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received 
for their services as Members of Congress; but they shall be reim-
bursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred 
by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. 
(b) The members of the Commission who are in the executive 
branch of the Government shall serve without compensation in addi-
tion to that received for their services in the executive branch, but they 
shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary ex-
penses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in 
the Commission. 
(c) The members of the Commission from private life shall each 
receive $50 per diem when engaged in the actual performance of duties 
vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, subsistence, 
and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance 
of such duties. 
STAFF OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. (a) (1) 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 1949, as amended. 
(2) The Commission may procure, without regard to the civil-
service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, temporary 
and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized for the 
departments by section 15 of the Act of August 2,1946 (60 Stat. 810), 
but at rates not to exceed $50 per diem for individuals. 
(b) All employees of the Commission shall be investigated by the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation as to character, associations, and 
loyalty and a report of each such investigation shall be furnished to 
the Commission. 
EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION 
Ante, p. 519. 
gj,^^ 5 There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution. 
DUTIES OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 6. The Commission shall study and investigate the entire Gov-
ernment security program, including the various statutes, Presidential 
orders, and administrative regulations and directives under which the 
Government seeks to protect the national security, national defense 
secrets, and public and private defense installations, against loss or 
injury arising from espionage, disloyalty, subversive activity, sabo-
tage, or unauthorized disclosures, together with the actual manner in 
which such statutes. Presidential orders, administrative regulations, 
and directives have been and are being administered and implemented, 
with a view to determining whether existing requirements, practices. 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 304-AUG. 9, 1955 
597 
and procedures are in accordance with the policies set forth in the 
first section of this joint resolution, and to recommending such changes 
as it may determine are necessary or desirable. 
The Commission shall 
also consider and submit reports and recommendations on the ade-
quacy or deficiencies of existing statutes, Presidential orders, admin-
istrative regulations, and directives, and the administration of such 
statutes, orders, regulations, and directives, from the standpoints of 
internal consistency of the overall security program and effective 
protection and maintenance of the national security. 
POWERS OF T H E COMMISSION 
SEC. 7. (a) The Commission or, on the authorization of the Com-
mission, any subcommittee thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying 
out the provisions of this joint resolution, hold such hearings and sit 
and act at such times and places, administer such oaths, and require, 
by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such wit-
nesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commission or such sub-
committee may deem advisable. Subpenas may be issued under the 
signature of the Chairman of the Commission, or the Chairman of 
any subcommittee with the approval of a majority of the members 
of such subcommittee and may be served by any person designated 
by such Chairman. 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 summoned under authority of this section. 
(b) The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any 
executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, inde-
pendent establishment, or instrumentality information, suggestions, 
estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this joint resolution, and 
each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, 
establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish 
such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the 
Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman. 
INTERFERENCE W I T H CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS AND INVESTIGATIVE AND 
INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS 
SEC 8. Nothing contained in this joint resolution shall be construed 
to require any agency of the United States to release any information 
possessed by it when, in the opinion of the President, the disclosure of 
such information would jeopardize or interfere with a pending or 
prospective criminal prosecution, or with the carrying out of the in-
telligence or investigative responsibilities of such agency, or would 
jeopardize or interfere with the interests of national security. 
REPORTS 
SEC. 9. The Commission may submit interim reports to the Congress 
and the President at such time or times as it deems advisable, and shall 
submit its final report to the Congress and the President not later 
than December 31, 1956. The final report of the Commission may 
propose such legislative enactments and administrative actions as in 
its judgment are necessary to carry out its recommendations. 
The 
Termination. 
Commission shall cease to exist ninety days after submission of its 
final report. 
Approved August 9, 1955.