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Report to Congress.

Membership.

Terms of office.

Chairman, V i c e Chairman.

Subpena power, etc.

Delegation of functions; exceptions.

PUBLIC LAW 89-670-OCT. 15, 1966

[80 STAT.

(f) I n the exercise of its functions, powers, and duties, the Board shall be independent of the Secretary and the other offices and officers of the Department. (g) The Board shall report to the Congress annually on the conduct of its functions under this Act and the effectiveness of accident investigations in the Department, together with such recommendations for legislation as it may deem appropriate. (h) The Board shall consist of five members to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No more than three members of the Board shall be of the same political party. Members of the Board shall be appointed with due regard to their fitness for the efficient dispatch of the functions, powers, and duties vested in and imposed upon the Board, and may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. (i) Members of the Board shall be appointed for terms of five years, except that (1) any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appomted shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term, and (2) the five members first appointed shall serve for terms (designated by the President at the time of appointment) ending on the last day of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth calendar years beginning after the year of enactment of this Act. Upon the expiration of his term of office, a member shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. (j) The President shall designate from time to time one of the members of the Board as Chairman and one of the members as Vice Chairman, who shall act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity of the Chairman, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman. The Chairman shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Board and shall exercise the responsibility of the Board with respect to (1) the appointment and supervision of personnel employed by the Board; (2) the distribution of business among the Board's personnel; and (3) the use and expenditure of funds. I n executing and administering the functions of the Board on its behalf, the Chairman shall be governed by the general policies of the Board and by its decisions, findings, and determinations. Three of the members shall constitute a quorum of the Board. (k) The Board is authorized to establish such rules, regulations, and procedures as are necessary to the exercise of its functions. (1) I n carrying out its functions, the Board (or, upon the authorization of the Board, any member thereof or any hearing examiner assigned to or employed by the Board) shall have the same powers as are vested in the Secretary to hold hearings, sign and issue subpenas, administer oaths, examine witnesses, and receive evidence at any place in the United States it may designate. (m) The Board may delegate to any officer or official of the Board, or, with the approval of the Secretary, to any officer or official of the Department such of its functions as it may deem appropriate, except that— (1) with respect to aviation, the proviso in section 701(g) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (72 Stat. 782; 49 U.S.C. 1441 (g)) shall apply to the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administrator and their representatives, and (2) the Board shall not delegate the appellate or determination of probable cause functions transferred to it by section 6(d) of this Act. (n) Subject to the civil service and classification laws, the Board is authorized to select, appoint, employ, and fix compensation of such

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