Commission Designation as Legislative or Executive Agency

The Chairman of the National Commission on Air Quality requested a decision on whether the Commission is a legislative or executive branch agency. The legislation creating the Commission does not specifically designate it as either. The Commission's reporting and advisory responsibilities are only to Congress; it has no regulatory or executive powers, and 4 of its 11 members are designated officers of Congress or are appointed by Congress. Notwithstanding that the other seven members are appointed by the President, the Commission is a legislative branch agency.