What public-law number identifies the 2016 act that created America250’s commission?

The 2016 act that created America250’s commission is identified as Public Law 114-196.

Public Law numbers contain two parts: the first identifies the Congress, and the second identifies the law’s sequence within that Congress. “114” therefore refers to the 114th United States Congress, while “196” identifies the act in that Congress’s public-law numbering.

The law’s formal title is the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. It was enacted on July 22, 2016, and established the body responsible for organizing and encouraging observances of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

This number is easy to confuse with nearby laws from the same congressional session. Public Law 114-195, for example, concerned global food security, while Public Law 114-197 concerned veterans’ compensation. The 196 designation specifically belongs to the semiquincentennial commission act.