United States Commission on Civil Rights

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The Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) is an independent agency of the United States government.

The Commission on Civil Rights is composed of eight Commissioners, who provide direct leadership to the organization, the Staff Director, and a professional career staff. Four of the commissioners are appointed by the President, the other four by Congress. The Staff Director is appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Commission. Political parties in the United States may have a maximum of four commissioners each.

The members of the Commission are Chairman Gerald A. Reynolds (R), Vice Chair Abigail Thernstrom (I), Jennifer Braceras (R), Peter Kirsanow (R), Ashley Taylor (R), Michael Yaki (D), and Arlan Melendez (D). Kenneth L. Marcus is the Staff Director.

[edit] Mission

Among the goals of the USCCR are the following:

To investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices.

To study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

To appraise federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

To serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

To submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress.

To issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws.

The Commission's most recent report was "Federal Procurement After Adarand" (September 2005). This report explores the extent to which federal agencies seriously consider race-neutral alternatives before resorting to racial preferences and set-asides, based on the Adarand Constructors v. Peña case. Additionally, the Commission has recently expanded its use of public briefings and briefing reports. Recent briefing topics have included the Voting Rights Act, Campus Anti-Semitism, Minorities and the Census, and the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act (the Akaka Bill). The Commission has also recently issued a briefing report entitled, "The Stagnation of the Black Middle Class" (2005).