Federal Advisory Committee Act

Federal Advisory Committee Act is a United States law that governs the establishment and operation of advisory committees, which are created to provide advice and guidance to federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Energy. The law aims to ensure that these committees are transparent, accountable, and free from undue influence from special interest groups, including those represented by lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. The Act has been amended several times since its enactment, with significant changes made by the 95th United States Congress and 105th United States Congress, which also passed the Paperwork Reduction Act and Government Performance and Results Act. The law has been influenced by the work of Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Office of Management and Budget.

● Introduction

The Federal Advisory Committee Act was enacted to address concerns about the growing number of advisory committees and the potential for undue influence from special interest groups, including those represented by lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. The law applies to advisory committees established by federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Department of Energy, as well as those established by the President of the United States, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush. The Act has been influenced by the work of Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Office of Management and Budget, which have also worked on issues related to the Budget Control Act of 2011 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The law has been shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, including those in cases such as Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency.

● Legislative History

The Federal Advisory Committee Act was passed by the 91st United States Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon on October 6, 1972. The law was enacted in response to concerns about the growing number of advisory committees and the potential for undue influence from special interest groups, including those represented by lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. The law has been amended several times since its enactment, with significant changes made by the 95th United States Congress and 105th United States Congress, which also passed the Paperwork Reduction Act and Government Performance and Results Act. The law has been influenced by the work of Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Office of Management and Budget, which have also worked on issues related to the Budget Control Act of 2011 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The law has been shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, including those in cases such as Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the opinions of Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

● Provisions and Requirements

The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that advisory committees be established in accordance with the law and that they operate in a transparent and accountable manner. The law requires that advisory committees be chartered by the federal agency that establishes them, and that the charter be filed with the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The law also requires that advisory committees hold public meetings and that their records be made available to the public, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Records Act. The law has been influenced by the work of National Archives and Records Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Central Intelligence Agency, which have also worked on issues related to national security and intelligence agency operations. The law has been shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, including those in cases such as United States v. Nixon and CIA v. Sims, as well as the opinions of Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

● Implementation and Enforcement

The Federal Advisory Committee Act is implemented and enforced by the General Services Administration, which is responsible for overseeing the establishment and operation of advisory committees. The law requires that advisory committees be reviewed and approved by the General Services Administration before they can be established, and that they be subject to periodic review and evaluation. The law also requires that advisory committees comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and other applicable laws, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Records Act. The law has been influenced by the work of Office of Government Ethics, Merit Systems Protection Board, and Federal Labor Relations Authority, which have also worked on issues related to federal employee conduct and labor relations. The law has been shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, including those in cases such as Buckley v. Valeo and Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., as well as the opinions of Justice Anthony Kennedy and Justice Clarence Thomas.

● Impact and Criticisms

The Federal Advisory Committee Act has had a significant impact on the establishment and operation of advisory committees in the United States. The law has helped to ensure that advisory committees are transparent and accountable, and that they operate in a manner that is free from undue influence from special interest groups, including those represented by lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. However, the law has also been criticized for being overly burdensome and for limiting the ability of advisory committees to provide effective advice and guidance to federal agencies. The law has been influenced by the work of Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Office of Management and Budget, which have also worked on issues related to the Budget Control Act of 2011 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The law has been shaped by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, including those in cases such as Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the opinions of Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The law has also been influenced by the work of National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, which have also worked on issues related to science and technology policy and public health. Category:United States federal legislation