Administrative Authority of The Chairman of The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Three commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) request clarification on the responsibilities of the Chairman, EEOC, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The commissioners refer to a difference in interpretation of section 705(a) of the Act between the Chairman and other Commissioners in terms of what EEOC activities must be submitted to and decided by the Commission as a whole. GAO found that the matter of whether, and to what extent, proposed contracts and other uses of funds should require Commission approval be presented before, and considered by, the Commission as a body; and that any determinations resulting from this process be promulgated as a formal and affirmative Commission policy.