The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established in 2016, launching the federal planning effort behind America250.
Congress created the commission through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. President Barack Obama signed that act on July 22, 2016, beginning an organized federal approach to the 2026 anniversary.
The commission’s responsibilities included coordinating commemorative activities and encouraging participation by government bodies, cultural organizations, schools, and communities. The long lead time reflected the scale of a nationwide anniversary.
The commission’s establishment predates the celebration by ten years. It is separate from the Continental Congress that adopted the Declaration in 1776: one was a modern commemorative body, while the other was the Revolutionary-era legislature that declared independence.