An Act to establish a Commission au Revision of the Judicial Circuits of the United States
PL 92-489 (H.R.7378), enacted 10/13/1972

86 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-489-OCT. 13, 1972 
807 
Public Law 92-489 
AN ACT 
To Create a Comiiiissioii on Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System 
of the United States. 
October 13, 1972 
[H. R. 7378] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That there is hereby 
established a Commission on Revision of the Federal Court Appellate 
System (hereinafter referred to as "Commission") whose function 
shall be— 
(a) to study the present division of the United States into the 
several judicial circuits and to report to the President, the 
Congress, and the Chief Justice its recommendations for changes 
in the geographical boundaries of the circuits as may be most 
appropriate for the expeditious and effective disposition of 
judicial business. 
(b) to study the structure and internal procedures of the 
Federal courts of appeal system, and to report to the President, 
the Congress, and the Chief Justice its recommendations for such 
additional changes in structure or internal procedure as may be 
appropriate for the expeditious and effective disposition of the 
caseload of the Federal courts of appeal, consistent with funda-
mental concepts of fairness and due process. 
SEC. 2. (a) The Commission shall be composed of sixteen members 
appointed as follows: 
(1) four members appointed by the President of the United 
States; 
(2) four Members of the Senate appointed by the President 
pro tempore of the Senate; 
(3) four Members of the House of Representatives appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
(4) four members appointed by the Chief Justice of the 
United States. 
(b) Any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment. 
(c) The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman 
from among its members. 
(d) Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, 
but three may conduct hearings. 
SEC. 3. (a) Members of the Commission who are officers, or full-time 
employees, of the United States shall receive no additional compen-
sation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, 
and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties 
vested in the Commission, but not exceeding the maximum amounts 
authorized under section 456 of title 28, United States Code. 
(b) Members of the Commission from private life shall receive 
$100 per diem for each day (including traveltime) during which he 
is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commis-
sion, plus reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary 
expenses incurred in the performance of such duties, but not in excess 
of the maximum amounts authorized under section 456 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 4. (a) The Commission may appoint an Executive Director 
who shall receive compensation at a rate not exceeding that prescribed 
for level V of the Executive Schedule. 
(b) The Executive Director, with approval of the Commission, 
may appoint and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as 
he deems necessary, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service or 
Commission on 
Revision of the 
Federal Court 
Appellate System. 
Establishment. 
Reports to 
President, Con-
gress and Chief 
Justice. 
Membership. 
Vacancies. 
Quorum. 
Travel 
expenses. 
67 Stat. 488; 
73 Stat. 285. 
Executive 
Director. 
83 Stat. 863. 
5 u s e 5315 
note. 
Personnel com-
pensation. 
5 u s e 101 et 
seq. 
-081 O - 73 - 54 
808 
PUBLIC LAW 92-490~OCT. 13, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
80 Stat. 443. 
467. 
5 u s e 5101, 
5331. 
S u s e 5332 
note. 
Experts and 
consultants. 
80 Stat. 416. 
Governmental 
cooperation. 
Reports to 
President, Con-
gress, and Chief 
Justice. 
Termination. 
Appropriation. 
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter I I I of chapter 58 relating 
to classification and General Schedule pay rates: Provided^ however^ 
That such compensation shall not exceed the annual rate of basic pay 
for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332, title 5, United 
States Code. 
(c) The Director may procure personal services of experts and 
consultants as authorized By section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates not to exceed the highest level payable under the 
General Schedule pay rates, section 5332, title 5, United States Code. 
(d) The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall 
provide administrative services, including financial and budgeting 
services, for the Commission on a reimbursable basis. The Federal 
Judicial Center shall provide necessary research services on a reim-
bursable basis. 
SEC. 5. The Commission is authorized to request from any depart-
ment, agency, or independent instrumentality of the Government any 
information and assistance it deems necessary to carry out its func-
tions under this Act and each such department, agency, and independ-
ent instrumentality is authorized to provide such information and 
assistance to the extent permitted by law when requested by the 
Chairman of the Conimission. 
SEC. 6. The Commission shall transmit to the President, the Con-
gress, and the Chief Justice— 
(1) its report under section 1(a) of this Act within one hun-
dred and eighty days of the date on which its ninth member is 
appointed; and 
(2) its report under section 1(b) of this Act within fifteen 
months of the date on which its ninth member is appointed. 
The Commission shall cease to exist ninety days after the date of the 
submission of its second report. 
SEC. 7. There are hereby authorized to be appropriaJted to the Com-
mission such sums, but not more than $270,000, as may be necessary 
to carry out the purposes of this Act. Authority is hereby granted for 
appropriated money tx) remain available until expended. 
Approved October 13, 1972. 
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October 13, 1972 
[H. J. Res.1211] 
Public Law 92-490 
v - 
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JOINT RESOLUTION 
To amend the joint resolution providing for membership and particijiation by 
the United States in the South Pacific Commission. 
South Pacific 
Commission. 
U.S. participa-
tion. 
84 Stat, 1876. 
Resoli^ed hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the VnHed 
^States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 3(a) of Public 
Law 403, P^ightieth (^ongress, as amended (22 U.S.C. 280b), is hereby 
further amended (1) by striking out "not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal 
year" and (2) by inserting before the period at the end thereof the 
following: "except that in no event shall that payment for any fiscal 
year of the (Commission exceed 20 per centum of all expenses appor-
tioned among participating governments of the Commission for that 
year". 
. ,...,,<,.« o/ii,..,,... 
Approved October 13, 1972.