The United States Commission on Civil Rights is composed of eight Commissioners: four appointed by the President and four by Congress. Not more than four members shall at any one time be of the same political party.

The President also designates the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the Commission's members with the concurrence of a majority of the Commission's members.

The Commissioners serve 6-year terms. No Senate confirmation is required. The President may remove a member of the Commission only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.


Presidential Appointees

Martin R. Castro (Chair)
President and CEO of Castro Synergies, LLC
Chicago, IL
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT

Abigail Thernstrom (Vice Chair)
Adjunct Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
New York City, New York
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN

Peter N. Kirsanow
Partner, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Arnoff
Cleveland, Ohio
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: REPUBLICAN

Roberta Achtenberg
Corporate Advisor in Public Policy and California State University Trustee
San Francisco, CA
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT
Congressional Appointees

Gail Heriot
Professor of Law, University of San Diego
San Diego, CA
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT

Todd F. Gaziano
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer,
Quality Health Ideas
Vice President for Research and Education, Accountable Care Associates
Washington, DC
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: INDEPENDENT

Michael Yaki
MICHAEL YAKI CONSULTING
San Francisco, CA
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT

David Kladney
Lawyer
Reno, NV
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: DEMOCRAT