An Act to establish a National Medal of Science to provide recognition for individuals who make outstanding contributions in the physical, biological, mathematical, and engineering sciences
PL 86-209 (H.R.6288), enacted 08/25/1959

73 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-209-AUG. 26, 1959 
431 
Public Law 86-208 
AN ACT 
To authorize the American Society of International Law to use certain real 
estate in the District of Columbia as the national headquarters of such 
society. 
Be it enacted. l)y the Senate and House of Re'presentatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assenwled, That the American 
Society of International Law, incorporated by the Act entitled "An 
Act to incorporate the American Society of International Law, and 
for other purposes", approved September 20, 1950 (Public Law 794, 
ch. 958, Eighty-first Congress, second session (64 Stat. 869)), is author-
ized to use the real estate described as lot 805 square 2512, situated in 
the city of Washington, District of Columbia, as the national head-
quarters of such society. 
Approved August 25, 1959. 
Aueuat 25, 1959 
[H. R. 6378] 
American Society 
of I n t e r n a t i o n a l 
Law, D. C. 
Use of property. 
36 u s e 341-352. 
Public Law 86-209 
AN ACT 
To establish a National Medal of Science to provide recognition for individuals 
who make outstanding contributions in the physical, biological, mathematical, 
and engineering sciences. 
August 25, 1959 
[H. R. 6288] 
Be it eiiacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby 
established a National Medal of Science (hereinafter referred to as 
the "medal''), which shall be of such design and materials and bear 
such inscriptions as the President, on the basis of recommendations 
submitted by the National Science Foundation, may prescribe, and 
shall be awarded as provided in section 2 of this Act. 
SEC. 2. (a) The President shall from time to time award the medal, 
on the basis of recommendations received from the National Academy 
of Sciences or on the basis of such other information and evidence as 
he deems appropriate, to individuals who in his judgment are deserv-
ing of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contribu-
tions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engi-
neering sciences. 
(b) Not more than twenty individuals may be awarded the medal 
in any one calendar year. 
(c) An individual may not be awarded the medal unless at the 
time such award is made ne— 
(1) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or 
(2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for 
permanent residence who (A) has filed an application for peti-
tion for naturalization in the manner prescribed by section 334(b) 
of the Immi^ation and Nationality Act and (B) is not perma-
nently ineligible to become a citizen of the United States. 
(d) The presentation of the award shall be made by the President 
with such ceremonies as he may deem proper, including attendance by 
appropriate Members of Congress. 
Approved August 25, 1959. 
National Medal 
of Science. 
P r e s i d ( 
award. 
nt i a l 
Restrictions. 
66 Stat. 255. 
8 u s e 1445.