ACT OF ORGANIZATIOM OV THE SMITHSONIAN 



INSTITUTION. 



August lo, 1846, with amendments to March 3, 1899. 



Preamble. James Smithson, esquire, of London, in the kingdom of 

 Great Britain, having by his last will and testament given the 

 whole of his property to the United States of America, to found, 

 at Washington, under the name of the ''Smithsonian Institution," 

 an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men; and the United States having, by an act of Congress, received 

 said property and accepted said trust; therefore, for the faithful 

 execution of said trust, according to the will of the liberal and 

 enlightened donor. 



Be it enacted hy the Senate and Home of Representatives of the 

 United States of America in Congress assembled: 



Sec. 5579. That the President, the Vice-President, the Chief 

 Justice, and the heads of Executive Departments are hereby consti- 

 tuted an establishment by the name of the Smithsonian Institution for 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men, and by that name 

 shall be known and have perpetual succession with the powers, limi- 

 tations, and restrictions hereinafter contained, and no other. 



Sec. 5580. The business of the Institution shall be conducted at the 

 city of Washington by a Board of Regents, named the Regents of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, to be composed of the Vice-President, 

 the Chief Justice of the United States, and three members of the 

 Senate and three members of the House of Representatives; together 

 with six other persons, other than members of Congress, two of whom 

 shall be resident in the city of AVashington; and the other four shall 

 be inhabitants of some State, but no two of them of the same State. 



Sec. 5581. The regents to be selected shall be appointed as follows: 

 The members of the Senate by the President thereof: the members of 

 the House by the Speaker thereof; and the six other persons by joint 



