James Madison Commemoration Commission Act
PL 106-550 (S.3137), enacted 12/19/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
114 STAT. 2745 
Public Law 106-550 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To establish a commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth 
Dec. 19, 2000 
of James Madison. 
[S. 3137] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
James Madison 
_ 
Commemoration 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
Commission Act. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—^This Act may be cited as the "James Madison 
36 USC note 
Commemoration Commission Act". 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—^The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows: 
Sec. 
1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Congressional findings. 
Sec. 3. EstabUshment. 
Sec. 4. Duties. 
Sec. 5. Membership. 
Sec. 6. Powers. 
Sec. 7. Staffing and support. 
Sec. 8. Contributions. 
Sec. 9. Reports. 
Sec. 10. Audit of financial transactions. 
Sec. 11. Termination. 
Sec. 12. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. 
36 USC note 
Congress finds that— 
(1) March 16, 2001, marks the 250th anniversary of the 
birth of James Madison; 
(2) as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and to the 
Annapolis Convention of 1786, James Madison foresaw the 
need for a more effective national government and was a 
persuasive advocate for such a government at the Philadelphia 
Constitutional Convention of 1787; 
(3) James Madison worked tirelessly and successfully at 
the Constitutional Convention to mold a national charter, the 
United States Constitution, that combined both energy and 
restraint, empowering the legislature, the executive, and the 
judiciary, within a framework of limited government, separated 
powers, and a system of federalism; 
(4) James Madison was an eloquent proponent of the first 
10 amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights; 
V (5) James Madison faithfully served his country as a Rep-
resentative in Congress from 1789 to 1797, as Secretary of 
State from 1801 to 1809, and as President of the United States 
from 1809 to 1817; 
(6) as President, James Madison showed courage and reso-
lute will in leading the United States to victory over Great 
Britain in the War of 1812; 
114 STAT. 2746 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
(7) James Madison's political writings, as exemplified by 
his Notes on the Federal Convention and his contributions 
to The Federalist Papers, are among the most distinguished 
of American state papers; 
(8) by his learning, his devotion to ordered liberty, and 
by the force of his intellect, James Madison made an indispen-
sable contribution to the American tradition of democratic con-
stitutional republicanism embodied in the Constitution of the 
United States, and is justifiably acclaimed as father of the 
Constitution; 
(9) it is appropriate to remember, honor, and renew the 
legacy of James Madison for the American people and, indeed 
for all mankind; and 
(10) as the Nation approaches March 16, 2001, marking 
the anniversary of the birth of James Madison, it is appropriate 
to establish a commission for the commemoration of that 
anniversary. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
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A commission to be known as the James Madison Commemora-
tion Commission (in this Act referred to as the "Commission") 
and a committee to be known as the James Madison Commemora-
tion Advisory Committee (in this Act referred to as the "Advisory 
Committee") are established. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
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(a) COMMISSION.—^The Commission shall— 
Grovernment 
(1) in cooperation with the Advisory Committee and the 
Prmting Office, 
Library of Congress, direct the Government Printing Office 
publication. 
^^ compile and publish a substantial number of copies of a 
book (as directed by the Commission) containing a selection 
of the most important writings of James Madison and tributes 
to him by members of the Commission and other persons that 
the Commission deems appropriate; 
(2) in cooperation with the Advisory Committee and the 
Library of Congress, plan and coordinate 1 or more s5niiposia, 
at least 1 of which will be held on March 16, 2001, and all 
of which will be devoted to providing a better understanding 
of James Madison's contribution to American political culture; 
(3) in cooperation with the Advisory Committee recognize 
such other events celebrating James Madison's birth and life 
as official events of the Commission; 
(4) develop and coordinate any other activities relating 
to the anniversary of the birth of James Madison as may 
be appropriate; 
(5) accept essay papers (via the Internet or otherwise) 
from students attending public and private institutions of 
elementary and secondary education in any State regarding 
James Madison's life and contributions to America and award 
certificates to students who author exceptional papers on this 
subject; and 
(6) bestow honorary memberships to the Commission or 
to the Advisory Committee upon such persons as it deems 
appropriate. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—^The Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) submit a suggested selection of James Madison's most 
important writings to the Commission for the Commission to 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
114 STAT. 2747 
consider for inclusion in the book printed as provided in sub-
section (a)(1); 
(2) submit a list and description of events concerning the 
birth and life of James Madison to the Commission for the 
Commission's consideration in recognizing such events as offi-
cial "Commission Events"; and 
(3) make such other recommendations to the Commission 
as a majority of its members deem appropriate. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSfflP. 
36 USC note 
(a) MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.— 
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(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—^The Commission shall be 
composed of 19 members, as follows: 
(A) The Chief Justice of the United States or such 
individual's delegate who is an Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court of the United States. 
(B) The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of 
the Senate or each such individual's delegate who is a 
Member of the Senate. 
(C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and 
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives or 
each such individual's delegate who is a Member of the 
House of Representatives. 
(D) The Chairman and the Ranking Member of the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate or each such 
individual's delegate who is a member of such committee. 
(E) The Chairman and the Ranking Member of the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
or each such individual's delegate who is a member of 
such committee. 
(F) Two Members of the Senate selected by the 
Majority Leader of the Senate and 2 Members of the Senate 
selected by the Minority Leader of the Senate. 
(G) Two members of the House of Representatives 
selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and 2 Members of the House of Representatives selected 
by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 
(H) Two members of the executive branch selected President, 
by the President of the United States. 
(2) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—^The Chief Justice of 
the United States shall serve as Chairman of the Commission 
and the members of the Commission shall select a vice chair-
man from its members, unless the Chief Justice appoints a 
delegate to serve in his stead, in which circumstance, the mem-
bers of the Commission shall select a chairman and vice chair-
man from its members. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—^The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of 14 members, as follows: 
(A) The Archivist of the United States or such individ-
ual's delegate. 
(B) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution or 
such individual's delegate. 
(C) The Executive Director of Montpelier, the home 
of James Madison, and the 2001 Planning Committee of 
Montpelier or such individual's delegate. 
114 STAT. 2748 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
Deadline. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
(D) The President of James Madison University in 
Harrisonburg, Virginia or such individual's delegate. 
(E) The Director of the James Madison Center, James 
Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia or such 
individual's delegate. 
(F) The President of the James Madison Memorial 
Fellowship Foundation or such individual's delegate. 
(G) Two members, who are not Members of Congress 
but have expertise on the legal and historical significance 
of James Madison, selected by the Majority Leader of the 
Senate, and 2 members, who are not Members of Congress 
but have expertise on the legal and historical significance 
of James Madison, selected by the Minority Leader of the 
Senate. 
(H) Two members, who are not Members of Congress 
but who have expertise on the legal and historical signifi-
cance of James Madison, selected by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and 2 members, who are not 
Members of Congress but who have expertise on the legal 
and historical significance of James Madison, selected by 
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 
(2) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—^The members of the 
Advisory Committee shall select a chairman and vice chairman 
from its members. 
(c) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission shall be selected 
and each member of the Advisory Committee shall be selected 
not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
and shall serve for the life of the Commission and the Advisory 
Committee, respectively. 
(d) VACANCIES.—^A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
in the same manner in which the original appointment was made 
in subsection (a). A vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall be 
filled by the person holding the office named in subsection (b) 
or his designate. 
(e) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) RATES OF PAY.—^Members of the Commission and the 
Advisory Committee shall serve without pay. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Commission 
and the Advisory Committee may receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of its 
chairman or a majority of its members. The Advisory Committee 
shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of its members. 
(g) APPROVAL OF ACTIONS.—^All official actions of the Commis-
sion under this Act shall be approved by the affirmative vote 
of not less than a majority of the members. All official actions 
of the Advisory Committee under this Act shall be approved by 
the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members. 
SEC. 6. POWERS. 
(a) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—^Any member or staff person 
of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
any action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act. 
(b) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
114 STAT. 2749 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Commission may procure services 
and property, and make or enter into contracts, leases, or 
other legal agreements, in order to carry out this Act. 
(2) RESTRICTION.—^The contracts, leases, or other legal 
agreements made or entered into by the Commission shall 
not extend beyond the date of termination of the Commission. 
(3) TERMINATION.—^All supplies and property acquired by 
the Commission under this Act that remain in the possession 
of the Commission on the date of termination of the Commission 
shall become the property of the General Services Administra-
tion upon the date of the termination. 
(c) INFORMATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Commission may secure directly from 
any Federal agency information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commis-
sion, the head of the Federal agency shall furnish the informa-
tion to the Commission. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—^Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
information that the Commission is prohibited to secure or 
request by another law. 
(d) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—^The Commission may adopt such 
rules and regulations as may be necessary to conduct meetings 
and carry out its duties under this Act. The Commission may 
also adopt such rules for the Advisory Committee. 
(e) MAILS.—^The Commission may use the United States mails 
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal 
agencies, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate may 
mail items on behalf of the Commission. 
if) NECESSARY AND PROPER POWERS.—^The Commission may 
exercise such other powers as are necessary and proper in carrying 
out and effecting the purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 7. STAFFING AND SUPPORT. 
36 USC note 
DZ*6C 101 
The Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, 
the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
of Representatives, and the Librarian of Congress shall provide 
the Commission and the Advisory Committee with such assistance, 
including staff support, facilities, and supplies at no charge, as 
may be necessary to carry out its duties. 
SEC. 8. CONTRIBUTIONS. 
36 USC note 
DrGC 1 0 1 
(a) DONATIONS.—^The Commission may accept donations of 
money, personal services, and property, both real and personal, 
including books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memo-
rabilia, relics, and other materials related to James Madison. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^Any funds donated to the Commission 
may be used by the Commission to carry out this Act. The 
source and amount of such funds shall be listed in the interim 
and final reports required under section 9. 
(2) PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any procurement 
requirement otherwise applicable to the Commission, the 
Commission shall conduct procurements of property or serv-
ices involving donated funds pursuant to the small pur-
chase procedures required by section 303(g) of the Federal 
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 
114 STAT. 2750 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
U.S.C. 253(g)). Section 150') of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 644(j)) shall not apply to such procurements. 
(B) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the term "donated 
funds" means any funds of which 50 percent or more derive 
from funds donated to the Commission. 
(c) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 of 
title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use 
voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission deter-
mines necessary. 
(d) REMAINING FUNDS.—Funds remaining upon the date of 
termination of the Commission shall be used to ensure the proper 
disposition of property donated to the Commission as specified 
in the final report required by section 9. 
Deadline. 
SEC. 9. REPORTS. 
P^^Sr*^ 
(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than February 15, 2001, the 
Commission shall prepare and submit to the President and Congress 
an interim report detailing the activities of the Commission, 
including an accounting of funds received and expended by the 
Commission, during the period beginning on the date of enactment 
of this Act and ending on December 31, 2000. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than February 15, 2002, the 
Commission shall submit to the President and to Congress a final 
report containing— 
(1) a summary of the activities of the Commission; 
(2) a final accounting of funds received and expended by 
the Commission; 
(3) the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the 
Commission; 
(4) specific recommendations concerning the final disposi-
tion of historically significant items donated to the Commission 
under section 8(a), if any; and 
(5) any additional views of any member of the Commission 
concerning the Commission's recommendations that 
such 
member requests to be included in the final report. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 10. AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. 
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(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the General Services 
Administration shall audit financial transactions of the Commission, 
including financial transactions involving donated funds, in accord-
ance with generally accepted auditing standards. In conducting 
an audit pursuant to this section, the Inspector General shall have 
access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and 
other papers, items, or property in use by the Commission, as 
necessary to facilitate the audit, and shall be afforded full facilities 
for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by 
depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. 
Deadlines. 
(b) AUDiT REPORTS.—^Not later than March 15, 2001, the 
Inspector General of the General Services Administration shall 
submit to the President and to Congress a report detailing the 
results of any audit of the financial transactions of the Commission 
conducted before January 1, 2001. Not later than March 15, 2002, 
such Inspector General shall submit to the President and to Con-
gress a report detailing the results of any audit of the financial 
transactions of the Commission conducted during the period begin-
ning on January 1, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2001. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-550—DEC. 19, 2000 
114 STAT. 2751 
SEC. 11. TERMINATION. 
36 USC note 
DI*6C 1 0 1 
The Commission and the Advisory Committee shall terminate 
not later than 60 days following submission of the final report 
required by section 9. 
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
36 USC note 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act ^^^'^' 
$250,000 for fiscal year 2001. 
Approved December 19, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3137: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Oct. 25, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 4, considered and passed House.