The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) was an independent, bipartisan agency in the

United States federal government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the Federation#Federal governments, national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 ...

formed to study and consider the federal government's intergovernmental relationships. It was established in 1959 by under Public Law 86-380 and operated until 1996. ACIR was a successor to the

Commission on Intergovernmental Relations The Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (popularly known as the Kestnbaum Commission) was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 10, 1953, to make recommendations for the solution of problems involving federal and state govern ...

, popularly known as the Kestenbaum Commission, a temporary commission that operated from 1953 to 1955. ACIR was directed by a 26-member commission that consisted of six members of the

U.S. Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...

appointed by the leadership of the

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

and

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, four

state governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...

s, three members of state legislatures, four

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

s, three county officials, three private citizens and three representatives of the

executive branch The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a State (polity), state. In poli ...

of the federal government. The citizen and executive branch representatives were appointed directly by the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

. The state, county, and municipal officials were appointed by the President from nominations submitted by national organizations of state and local governments. ACIR had a professional staff of between 15 and 30 people who conducted research for the organization. It was terminated by the 1996 budget by a Republican-dominated Congress and with support of president

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

, who became displeased with ACIR's handling of unfunded federal mandates.

References

External links

CyberCemetery: Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
University of North Texas Libraries Government agencies established in 1959 Government agencies disestablished in 1996 {{US-gov-stub