The United States Semiquincentennial Commission had 33 members when they were sworn in in 2018.
The commissioners took their oaths on November 16, 2018, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. They then held their first organizing meeting and began the long process of preparing for the 2026 national anniversary.
The original group consisted of 16 private citizens, eight members of Congress, and nine federal officials. Those categories total 33 members. The commission’s structure was later changed by amendments to its enabling law, so the 2018 total should not be confused with later membership figures.
Independence Hall was selected for the opening because it is closely associated with both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. The choice linked the modern planning body directly to two foundational events in American history.