The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established in 2016 to help plan America250.
Congress created the commission through legislation signed in July 2016. Its purpose is to promote and coordinate observances of the 250th anniversary of American independence and to encourage participation by governments, institutions, communities, and the public.
The commission is a congressional body rather than a single-city festival committee. That structure reflects the national scope of the anniversary, which includes events across the United States and programs involving historical, educational, cultural, and civic organizations.
The commission's creation came ten years before the anniversary year. A nonprofit organization serves as its supporting partner and public-facing work is commonly branded America250. The commission should not be confused with the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, which was created in 1966 for the 1976 celebration.