Which act created the United States Semiquincentennial Commission for the 2026 anniversary?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016.

The act established a federally appointed body to promote and coordinate observances of the 250th anniversary of American independence. It gave the commission a long planning horizon because the anniversary would arrive a decade after the law was passed.

The commission was designed as a bipartisan organization. Its membership included members of Congress, private citizens, and federal officials. Later legislation amended its structure, including changes involving funding and ex officio federal membership.

The 2016 act is distinct from the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which authorized special 2026 coin designs. It is also separate from the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday, created by executive order in 2025.