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unwarranted economic or other pressures are being applied to deny funda-
mental rights safeguarded by the Constitution and laws of the United
States.
The need for a full scale public study as requested by the
President is manifest. The executive branch of the federal govern-
ment has no general investigative power of the scope required to
undertake such a study. The study should be objective and free from
partisanship. It should be broad and at the same time thorough.
Civil rights are of primary concern to all our people. To
this end the Commission's membership must be truly bipartisan and
geographically representative.
A bill detailing the Commission proposal is submitted
with this statement.
The proposed legislation provides that the Commission shall
have six members, appointed by the President with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. No more than three may be of the same political
party. The Commission will be temporary, expiring two years from the
effective date of the statute, unless extended by Congress. It will
have authority to subpoena witnesses, take testimony under oath, and
request necessary data from any executive department or agency. It
may be required to make interim reports pending completion of a
comprehensive final report containing findings and recommendations.
The Commission will have authority to hold public hearings.
Knowledge and understanding of every element of the problem will give
greater clarity and perspective to one of the most difficult problems
facing our country. Such a study, fairly conducted, will tend to
unite responsible people in common effort to solve these problems.
Investigation and hearings will bring into sharper focus the areas
of responsibility of the federal government and of the states under
our constitutional system. Through greater public understanding,
therefore, the Commission may chart a course of progress to guide us
in the years ahead.
II
At present the Civil Rights Section of the Department of
1 3
.o
Justice is one of a number of sections located within the Criminal
Division. The protection of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitu-
tion is a governmental function and responsibility of first importance.
It merits the full direction of a highly qualified lawyer, with the
status of Assistant Attorney General, appointed by the President with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
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"ocrText": "- 2 -\nunwarranted economic or other pressures are being applied to deny funda-\nmental rights safeguarded by the Constitution and laws of the United\nStates.\nThe need for a full scale public study as requested by the\nPresident is manifest. The executive branch of the federal govern-\nment has no general investigative power of the scope required to\nundertake such a study. The study should be objective and free from\npartisanship. It should be broad and at the same time thorough.\nCivil rights are of primary concern to all our people. To\nthis end the Commission's membership must be truly bipartisan and\ngeographically representative.\nA bill detailing the Commission proposal is submitted\nwith this statement.\nThe proposed legislation provides that the Commission shall\nhave six members, appointed by the President with the advice and con-\nsent of the Senate. No more than three may be of the same political\nparty. The Commission will be temporary, expiring two years from the\neffective date of the statute, unless extended by Congress. It will\nhave authority to subpoena witnesses, take testimony under oath, and\nrequest necessary data from any executive department or agency. It\nmay be required to make interim reports pending completion of a\ncomprehensive final report containing findings and recommendations.\nThe Commission will have authority to hold public hearings.\nKnowledge and understanding of every element of the problem will give\ngreater clarity and perspective to one of the most difficult problems\nfacing our country. Such a study, fairly conducted, will tend to\nunite responsible people in common effort to solve these problems.\nInvestigation and hearings will bring into sharper focus the areas\nof responsibility of the federal government and of the states under\nour constitutional system. Through greater public understanding,\ntherefore, the Commission may chart a course of progress to guide us\nin the years ahead.\nII\nAt present the Civil Rights Section of the Department of\n1 3\n.o\nJustice is one of a number of sections located within the Criminal\nDivision. The protection of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitu-\ntion is a governmental function and responsibility of first importance.\nIt merits the full direction of a highly qualified lawyer, with the\nstatus of Assistant Attorney General, appointed by the President with\nthe advice and consent of the Senate."
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