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Commission on Civil Rights
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“Mission“
-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.
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COMMISSIONERS
The United States Commission on Civil Rights is composed of eight Commissioners: four appointed by the President and four by Congress. Not more than four members shall at any one time be of the same political party.
The President also designates the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the Commission’s members with the concurrence of a majority of the Commission’s members.
The Commissioners serve 6-year terms. No Senate confirmation is required. The President may remove a member of the Commission only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.
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PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES
Assistant General Counsel
Kansas City Power & Light Company
Kansas City, MO / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
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Adjunct Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
New York City, New York / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
New York City, New York / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
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Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Arnoff
Cleveland, Ohio / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
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Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP
Richmond, VA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
Richmond, VA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN
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CONGRESSIONAL APPOINTEES
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Chairman and Chief Executive
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Reno, Nevada / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Reno, Nevada / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT
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MICHAEL YAKI CONSULTING
San Francisco, CA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT
San Francisco, CA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT
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Professor of Law, University of San Diego
San Diego, CA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT
San Diego, CA / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT
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Senior Fellow in Legal Studies
The Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT
The Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC / POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT
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Staff Director
Martin Dannenfelser
Between 2001 and 2008, Martin Dannenfelser served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children in Families (ACF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He advised the Assistant Secretary on legislation, policy and intergovernmental matters; and provided executive leadership to program and regional offices on projects of special importance to the Assistant Secretary.
Mr. Dannenfelser and his Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) office organized a Customer Service Project that identified obstacles and barriers faced by ACF’s minority customers; he coordinated ACF program office development of solutions to these obstacles and barriers. IGA also developed and implemented a Community Organizations Database of more than 15,000 local minority organizations and leaders. The Database provided ACF with an enhanced outreach capability for informing the minority communities of ACF services and funding opportunities. Dannenfelser promoted substantial ACF participation at minority conferences (e.g., National Council of La Raza, League of United Latin American Citizens, NAACP, National Urban League and Organization of Chinese Americans). He also participated in an outreach initiative to help underserved populations obtain greater access to Head Start services.
Mr. Dannenfelser represented ACF on various Departmental Working Groups, including the HIV/AIDS Program Management Coordination Team and the Federal Partners Senior Workgroup on Mental Health Transformation. He represented HHS on the Interagency Management Group (Departments of Education, HHS and Labor) of the National Institute for Literacy; also represented HHS at international meetings of UNICEF and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Between 1995 and 2001, Mr. Dannenfelser served in various positions with the Family Research Council (FRC) including as a Vice President. As FRC’s chief government relations official, he testified before congressional committees on religious liberty, human rights and family tax relief. He participated in a coalition to support passage of the Church Arson Prevention Act following a spate of church burnings in the 1990s, several of which were against predominantly African-American churches. He also played a leading role in promoting enactment of the Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
Between 1981 and 1995, Mr. Dannenfelser served as Legislative Director and Administrative Assistant for Congressman Christopher Smith of New Jersey. He hired and supervised staff; directed the development, promotion and implementation of the congressman’s legislative agenda; prepared and managed annual budgets; drafted legislation and amendments; wrote newsletter articles, weekly columns, op-ed articles, “Dear Colleague” letters and Congressional Record speeches.
Mr. Dannenfelser received a B.S. degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Public Administration, from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey).
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STAFF
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Office of the General Counsel: The Office of General Counsel provides the legal expertise and activity required to conduct hearings and to ensure the legal integrity of Commission products.
Office of Civil Rights Evaluation: The Office of Civil Rights Evaluation provides the subject-matter, critical, and analytical expertise required to research and write evaluations of civil rights issues. The Office monitors the activities of numerous federal agencies as well as national and regional civil rights trends. Based on information gathered, this office develops project proposals, carries out projects, and responds to inquiries from the public and the Commissioners. It also receives, researches, analyzes, and recommends resolutions for civil rights complaints.
Office of Management: The Office of Management provides administrative, library, budget and finance, and human resources development support services for the Commission. This office also manages the Commission’s information resources. In addition, in its role as a clearinghouse for information on civil rights, the library responds to requests from the public for copies of Commission publications.
Congressional Affairs Unit: The Congressional Affairs Unit serves as the liaison with Congress, responding to requests for specific information and ensuring the distribution of the Commission’s studies and reports to all members. The Unit monitors the legislative activities of Congress and provides support in the conceptualization and production of studies and reports with information gathered via their monitoring activities.
Public Affairs Unit: The Public Affairs Unit serves as the public voice of the Commission and ensures that the activities and the publications of the Commission are known to the American public. The Unit coordinates and carries out such activities as briefing reporters and the Commissioners on civil rights issues, holding press conferences, issuing press releases, arranging interviews with the Commissioners, and monitoring press activity regarding the Commission and civil rights issues. The Unit deals directly with the public in responding to inquiries and by attending meetings of civil rights organizations as speakers.
Regional Programs Coordination Unit: The Regional Programs Coordination Unit ensures that the individual regional programs are sufficiently coordinated across regions and with headquarters. The Unit ensures that headquarters support and guidance are provided as necessary. The Unit provides support in the finalization and publication of headquarters-developed and regional reports and studies, as well as in the announcement of hearings.
Regional Offices: The six Regional Offices are staffed by a director, civil rights analysts, and other administrative personnel. They coordinate the Commission’s operations in their regions and assist the State Advisory Committees in their activities.
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STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES
The Commission also has 51 State Advisory Committees (SAC) – one for each state and the District of Columbia. Each is composed of citizens familiar with local and state civil rights issues. The members serve without compensation and assist the Commission with its fact-finding, investigative, and information dissemination functions (view the SAC Meeting Schedule).
Individual members of these committees are recommended by the regional director of their area, approved by the Staff Director, and voted upon at a regular meeting of the Commissioners. Their term of office is 2 years, but they can be reappointed.
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