Under its original law, 24 voting commissioners were appointed to plan America250.
The original structure included eight members of Congress and 16 private citizens. Congressional leaders from both major parties selected members from the Senate and House, while party leaders also appointed the private citizen commissioners. The president designated one private citizen as chairperson.
The commission later changed in size when amendments expanded the number of non-voting ex officio federal officials. That later structure is why some descriptions mention 36 total members. The number 24 refers specifically to the original voting commissioners, not every person connected with the commission.
This distinction matters because the commission’s membership has evolved over time as terms ended, vacancies occurred, and new officials joined in advisory or ex officio roles. Its central assignment remained the same: organize and encourage activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.