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Council of Economic Advisers

Seventeenth and Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20502

202-456-4779
http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea

CHAIRCecilia E. Rouse

MembersJared Bernstein
Heather M. Boushey
https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea

The Council of Economic Advisers analyzes and appraises the national economy to make policy recommendations to the President.

ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

On February 20, 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 79–304, which is also cited as the Employment Act of 1946. The Act "created in the Executive Office of the President a Council of Economic Advisers" (60 Stat. 24).

http://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/79th-congress/session-2/c79s2ch33.pdf

On June 1, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower prepared a reorganization plan and transmitted it to the U.S. Congress on June 1, 1953. Reorganization Plan No. 9 of 1953 became effective 2 months later on August 1st and was published in the Federal Register on August 3d.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1953-08-04/pdf/FR-1953-08-04.pdf

The Council continues to function under the Employment Act of 1946 and Reorganization Plan No. 9 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.).

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5a-node84-leaf142&num=0&edition=prelim

Public Law 112–166, which also is cited as the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011, affected the appointment process of Council members. The Council comprises three members: one of whom serves as the Chair and another of whom serves as the Vice Chair. The President appoints the Chair by the advice and with the consent of the Senate. The President designates one of the members as Vice Chair, who acts as the Chair in his or her absence. Each Council member, "as a result of training, experience, and attainments," should be "exceptionally qualified to analyze and interpret economic developments, to appraise programs and activities of the Government . . . and to formulate and recommend national economic policy to promote full employment, production, and purchasing power under free competitive enterprise" (126 Stat. 1287–1288).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-126/pdf/STATUTE-126.pdf

STATUTORY AUTHORITIES

Statutory subject matter affecting the Council of Economic Advisers is codified in "Chapter 21—National Policy on Employment and Productivity" of 15 U.S.C. Section 1023 is dedicated to the Council of Economic Advisers.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1023&num=0&edition=prelim#sourcecredit

ACTIVITIES

The Council analyzes the national economy and its various sectors; advises the President on economic developments; appraises the economic programs and policies of the Federal Government; recommends policies for economic growth and stability to the President; assists in the preparation of the President's economic reports to the U.S. Congress; and prepares the "Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea

Sources of Information

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that records of the Council of Economic Advisers have been assigned to record group 459.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/459.html

Documents

The Government Publishing Office's govinfo website includes the Council of Economic Advisers in the list of executive branch authors on its "Browse by Government Author" web page.

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/browse/author

The above Sources of Information were updated 1–2021.