C. POLITICAL COMPOSITION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS TO NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY FALL 1977 SESSION COMPARED TO POLITICAL COMPOSITION OF PARENT PARLIAMENTS C. POLITICAL COMPOSITION OF NATIONAL DELEGATIONS TO NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY FALL 1977 SESSION COMPARED TO POLITICAL COMPOSITION OF PARENT PARLIAMENTS-Continued D. BACKGROUND INFORMATION RELATING TO UNITED STATES North Atlantic Assembly* Authorization for participation: Joint resolution authorizing U.S. participation in NATO parliamentary conferences July 11, 1956 (Public Law 84-689) (text follows). International agreement establishing: Pursuant to article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty which provided that: The Parties will contribute toward the further development of peaceful and friendly relations by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well being.' The NATO Secretary-General in 1954 suggested the possibility of developing a closer relationship between NATO and members of national legislatures. In 1955 the first conference of members of legislative bodies from NATO countries voted to meet annually.' Current method of authorization and appropriation of funds: Department of State authorization and appropriation bills. Department of State authorization bills are considered by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on International Relations. Public Law 85-477, June 30, 1958, limited the U.S. contribution to 25 percent of total annual contributions.3 Method of appointment of U.S. representatives: The joint resolution authorizing U.S. participation in NATO parlimentary conferences provided for the appointment of not more than 18 members of Congress annually as delegates to NATO parliamentary conferences. Half were to be appointed by the Speaker of the House from members of the House, and half were to be appointed by the President of the Senate from members of the Senate. Not more than five of the appointees from the respective Houses were to be of the same political party. Type and amount of information submitted to Congress regularly: Section 3 of the above-cited joint resolution required a report from the United States parliamentary group to the Congress for each fiscal year for which an appropriation was made, including the expenditures of the group under such appropriation. In addition, section 105(b) of Public Law 86-628, July 12, 1960, (Legislative Branch Appropriation Act of 1961) required each member of the U.S. delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly and each congressional employee on whose behalf expenditures were made from funds appropriated for the expenses of • Reprinted from Congressional Research Service Multilith 77-29: United States Participation in International Organizations: An Introductory Overview and Selected Basic Data by E. C. Collier, Marjorie Niehaus, and Carol Ann Capps. March 3, 1977. 14 Bevans 829; TIAS 1964. United States Contributions to International Organizations. :: for Fiscal Year 1974, p. 65. 72 Stat. 273; 22 U.S.C. 1928b. the delegation to file an itemized report showing the amount and purpose of all expenditures made on his behalf." The annual report of the Secretary of State, United States Contributions to International Organizations, includes a brief description of the origin, purpose, and structure of the North Atlantic Assembly; a list of members; and information on the U.S. contribution. The annual appropriation hearings for the Department of State also contains brief information on the North Atlantic Assembly and on the U.S. financial contribution." U.S. agencies currently responsible for participation: State; Congress. Public Law 86-628, July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 446; 22 U.S.C. 276c-1. For the most recent report see United States Contributions to International Organizations : : : for fiscal 1974, pp. 64-65. See, for example, House hearings on Department of State appropriations for 1976, p. 624: UNITED STATES GROUP OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY Public law 84-689 [H.J. Res. 501], 70 Stat. 523; 22 U.S.C. 1928a-1928d, approved July 11, 1956, as amended by Public Law 85-477 [H.R. 12181], 72 Stat. 261 approved June 30, 1958; Public Law 88-205 [H.R. 7885]; 77 Stat. 379, approved December 16, 1963; Public Law 90-137 [S. 1782], 81 Stat. 445, approved November 14, 1967; Public Law 94-350 [S. 3168], 90 Stat. 823, approved July 12, 1976; and by Public Law 95-45 [H.R. 5040], 91 Stat. 221 at 222, approved June 15, JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize participation by the United States in parliamentary conferences of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 1977. 2 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That not to exceed twentyfour Members of Congress shall be appointed to meet jointly and annually with representative parliamentary groups from other NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members, for discussion of common problems in the interests of the maintenance of peace and security in the North Atlantic area. Of the Members of the Congress to be appointed for the purposes of this resolution (hereinafter designated as the "United States Group") half shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House from Members of the House (not less than four of whom shall be from the Committee on International Relations),3 and half shall be appointed by the President of the Senate upon recommendations of the majority and minority leaders of the Senate from Members of the Senate. Not more than seven of the appointees from the Senate shall be of the same political party. The Chairman or Vice Chairman of the House delegation shall be a Member from the International Relations Committee, and, unless the President of the Senate, upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, determines otherwise, the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Senate delegation shall be a Member from the Foreign Relations Committee." 4 SEC. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated annually, for the annual contribution of the United States toward the maintenance of the North Atlantic Assembly,' such sum as may be agreed upon by the United States Group and approved by such Assembly,' but in no event to exceed for any year an amount equal to 25 per centum of the total annual contributions made for that year by all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization toward the maintenance of such Assembly, and $50,000, $25,000 for the House delegation and $25,000 1963. 1 Sec. 4(c)(1) of Public Law 95-45 (91 Stat. 222) substituted "twenty-four" in lieu of "eighteen”. The words "and when Congress is not in session," were deleted by Public Law 88-205, approved Dec. 6, Sec. 4(c) (2) of Public Law 95-45 (91 Stat. 222) added the words to this point beginning with "not less than Sec. 4(c) (2) of Public Law 95-45 (91 Stat. 222) added the words "upon recommendations of the majority and minority leaders of the Senate". This sentence, which previously read, "Not more than five of the appointees from the respective Houses shall be of the same political party.", was amended by Sec. 4(c)(3) of Public Law 95-45 (91 Stat. 222). This sentence was added by Sec. 4(c) (4) of Public Law 95-45 (91 Stat. 222). "The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Conference" was changed to "North Atlantio Assembly" and "such Conference" was changed to "such Assembly" by Public Law 90-137, approved Nov. 14, 1967. |