Membership

(a) Number and appointment (1) Membership The Commission shall be composed of 15 members including the Chair, who shall be appointed as follows: (A) Politically appointed members Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act: (i) One member shall be appointed by the President. (ii) Two members shall be appointed by the House Majority Leader, in consultation with the committee of jurisdiction of the House. (iii) Two members shall be appointed by the House Minority Leader, in consultation with the committee of jurisdiction of the House. (iv) Two members shall be appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, in consultation with the committee of jurisdiction of the Senate. (v) Two members shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, in consultation with the committee of the jurisdiction of the Senate. (B) Subject matter experts Not later than 60 days after the appointment of the Chair under section 5(e), six members, who shall be individuals appointed by the Chair, and approved by a majority of the members appointed under subparagraph (A). Such individuals shall be from the major civil society and reparations organizations that have historically championed the cause of reparatory justice. (2) Qualification All members of the Commission shall be persons who are especially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, training, activism or experience, particularly in the field of African-American studies and reparatory justice. (3) Limitation No person who is a member of Congress or an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State or local government may serve as a member of the Commission, with the exception of those employed as full-time faculty at State-funded colleges or universities. (b) Terms The term of office for members shall be for the life of the Commission. (c) Quorum Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. (d) Vacancies A vacancy on the Commission shall— (1) not affect the powers of the Commission; and (2) be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (e) Chair There shall be a Chair of the Commission selected, from among the 9 politically appointed members described in subsection (a)(1)(A), jointly by the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the committees of jurisdiction. The term of office shall be for the life of the Commission. (f) Initial meeting of full commission The Chair shall call an initial meeting of the full Commission not later than 45 days after the appointment of all members under subsection (a)(1).