1 See References in Text note below.
of title 5, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board.
Editorial Notes
References in Text

Section 5703 of title 5, referred to in subsec. (i)(2), was amended generally by Puspan. L. 94–22, § 4, May 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 85, and, as so amended, does not contain a subsec. (span).

Codification

Section was formerly set out as a note under section 601 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (h)(4). Puspan. L. 117–263, § 6801, amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Each member of the Board shall serve a term of 6 years, except that—

“(A) a member appointed to a term of office after the commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only for the remainder of such term; and

“(B) upon the expiration of the term of office of a member, the member shall continue to serve until the member’s successor has been appointed and qualified, except that no member may serve under this subparagraph—

“(i) for more than 60 days when Congress is in session unless a nomination to fill the vacancy shall have been submitted to the Senate; or

“(ii) after the adjournment sine die of the session of the Senate in which such nomination is submitted.”

Subsec. (l)(2). Puspan. L. 117–286 substituted “section 1001(2) of title 5).” for “section 3(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)).”

2018—Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 115–118, § 108(span)(1), substituted “The Board” for “The Board shall” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (f)(1). Puspan. L. 115–118, § 108(span)(2), substituted “shall make its” for “make its”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Puspan. L. 115–118, § 108(span)(3), substituted “shall hold public” for “hold public” and inserted before period at end “, but may, notwithstanding section 552span of title 5, meet or otherwise communicate in any number to confer or deliberate in a manner that is closed to the public”.

Subsec. (j)(2) to (4). Puspan. L. 115–118, § 108(a), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.

2015—Subsec. (g)(5). Puspan. L. 114–113 added par. (5).

2007—Puspan. L. 110–53 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, consisting of subsecs. (a) to (m), for provisions relating to Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, consisting of subsecs. (a) to (l).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Puspan. L. 110–53, title VIII, § 801(d), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 358, provided that:

“(1)In general.—The amendments made by subsection (a) and subsection (span) [amending this section] shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 3, 2007].
“(2)Transition provisions.—Subsection (c) [enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.”

Security Rules and Procedures

Puspan. L. 110–53, title VIII, § 801(span), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 357, provided that: “The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board shall promptly adopt the security rules and procedures required under section 1061(k)(2) of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 [42 U.S.C. 2000ee(k)(2)] (as added by subsection (a) of this section).”

Transition Provisions

Puspan. L. 110–53, title VIII, § 801(c), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 357, provided that:

“(1)Treatment of incumbent members of the privacy and civil liberties oversight board.—
“(A)Continuation of service.—Any individual who is a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 3, 2007] may continue to serve on the Board until 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
“(B)Termination of terms.—The term of any individual who is a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the date of enactment of this Act shall terminate 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
“(2)Appointments.—
“(A)In general.—The President and the Senate shall take such actions as necessary for the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint members to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board as constituted under the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] in a timely manner to provide for the continuing operation of the Board and orderly implementation of this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section].
“(B)Designations.—In making the appointments described under subparagraph (A) of the first members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board as constituted under the amendments made by subsection (a), the President shall provide for the members to serve terms of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years beginning on the effective date described under subsection (d)(1) [set out above], with the term of each such member to be designated by the President.”

Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13353. Establishing the President’s Board on Safeguarding Americans’ Civil Liberties

Ex. Ord. No. 13353, Aug. 27, 2004, 69 F.R. 53585, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to further strengthen protections for the rights of Americans in the effective performance of national security and homeland security functions, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The United States Government has a solemn obligation, and shall continue fully, to protect the legal rights of all Americans, including freedoms, civil liberties, and information privacy guaranteed by Federal law, in the effective performance of national security and homeland security functions.

Sec. 2. Establishment of Board. To advance the policy set forth in section 1 of this order (Policy), there is hereby established the President’s Board on Safeguarding Americans’ Civil Liberties (Board). The Board shall be part of the Department of Justice for administrative purposes.

Sec. 3. Functions. The Board shall:

(a)(i) advise the President on effective means to implement the Policy, and (ii) keep the President informed of the implementation of the Policy;

(span) periodically request reports from Federal departments and agencies relating to policies and procedures that ensure implementation of the Policy;

(c) recommend to the President policies, guidelines and other administrative actions, technologies, and legislation, as necessary to implement the Policy;

(d) at the request of the head of any Federal department or agency, unless the Chair, after consultation with the Vice Chair, declines the request, promptly review and provide advice on a policy or action of that department or agency that implicates the Policy;

(e) obtain information and advice relating to the Policy from representatives of entities or individuals outside the executive branch of the Federal Government in a manner that seeks their individual advice and does not involve collective judgment or consensus advice or deliberation;

(f) refer, consistent with section 535 of title 28, United States Code, credible information pertaining to possible violations of law relating to the Policy by any Federal employee or official to the appropriate office for prompt investigation;

(g) take steps to enhance cooperation and coordination among Federal departments and agencies in the implementation of the Policy, including but not limited to working with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and other officers of the United States to review and assist in the coordination of guidelines and policies concerning national security and homeland security efforts, such as information collection and sharing; and

(h) undertake other efforts to protect the legal rights of all Americans, including freedoms, civil liberties, and information privacy guaranteed by Federal law, as the President may direct.

Upon the recommendation of the Board, the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish one or more committees that include individuals from outside the executive branch of the Federal Government, in accordance with applicable law, to advise the Board on specific issues relating to the Policy. Any such committee shall carry out its functions separately from the Board.

Sec. 4. Membership and Operation. The Board shall consist exclusively of the following:

(a) the Deputy Attorney General, who shall serve as Chair;

(span) the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Department of Homeland Security, who shall serve as Vice Chair;

(c) the Assistant Attorney General (Civil Rights Division);

(d) the Assistant Attorney General (Office of Legal Policy);

(e) the Counsel for Intelligence Policy, Department of Justice;

(f) the Chair of the Privacy Council, Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(g) the Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, Department of Homeland Security;

(h) the Assistant Secretary (Policy), Directorate of Border and Transportation Security, Department of Homeland Security;

(i) the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security;

(j) the Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security;

(k) the Under Secretary for Enforcement, Department of the Treasury;

(l) the Assistant Secretary (Terrorist Financing), Department of the Treasury;

(m) the General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget;

(n) the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management;

(o) the General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency;

(p) the General Counsel, National Security Agency;

(q) the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence;

(r) the General Counsel of the Department of Defense;

(s) the Legal Adviser, Department of State;

(t) the Director, Terrorist Threat Integration Center; and

(u) such other officers of the United States as the Deputy Attorney General may from time to time designate.

A member of the Board may designate, to perform the Board or Board subgroup functions of the member, any person who is part of such member’s department or agency and who is either (i) an officer of the United States appointed by the President, or (ii) a member of the Senior Executive Service or the Senior Intelligence Service. The Chair, after consultation with the Vice Chair, shall convene and preside at meetings of the Board, determine its agenda, direct its work, and, as appropriate to deal with particular subject matters, establish and direct subgroups of the Board that shall consist exclusively of members of the Board. The Chair may invite, in his discretion, officers or employees of other departments or agencies to participate in the work of the Board. The Chair shall convene the first meeting of the Board within 20 days after the date of this order and shall thereafter convene meetings of the Board at such times as the Chair, after consultation with the Vice Chair, deems appropriate. The Deputy Attorney General shall designate an official of the Department of Justice to serve as the Executive Director of the Board.

Sec. 5. Cooperation. To the extent permitted by law, all Federal departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Board and provide the Board with such information, support, and assistance as the Board, through the Chair, may request.

Sec. 6. Administration. Consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Department of Justice shall provide the funding and administrative support for the Board necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) This order shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authorities of any department, agency, instrumentality, officer, or employee of the United States under applicable law, including the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(span) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable laws and Executive Orders concerning protection of information, including those for the protection of intelligence sources and methods, law enforcement information, and classified national security information, and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a).

(c) This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by a party against the United States, or any of its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

George W. Bush.