U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) was an independent, bipartisan agency in the United States federal government formed to study and consider the federal government's intergovernmental relationships. It was established in 1959 by under Public Law 86-380 and operated until 1996.{{citation |url=http://library.truman.edu/microforms/ACIR.asp |title=United States Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Policy Reports on Microfiche.|publisher=Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University |location=Kirksville, Missouri}}{{citation |title=The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations: Unique Artifact of a Bygone Era |last=Kincaid |first=John |journal=Public Administration Review |doi=10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02328.x |volume=71|number=2, March/April 2011 |pages=181–189 |year=2011}}{{citation |url=http://publius.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/2/111.short |title=Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations in 1996: The End of an Era |first=Bruce D. |last=McDowell |journal=Publius |volume=27|number=2, Spring 1997 |pages=111–127 |year=1997 |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubjof.a029901 |url-access=subscription }}

ACIR was a successor to the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, popularly known as the Kestenbaum Commission, a temporary commission that operated from 1953 to 1955.{{citation |url=http://www.library.unt.edu/gpo/acir/Acirhist.htm |title=Brief History of the ACIR |work=Cybercemetery |publisher=University of North Texas Libraries |access-date=February 20, 2012}}

ACIR was directed by a 26-member commission that consisted of six members of the U.S. Congress appointed by the leadership of the House and Senate, four state governors, three members of state legislatures, four mayors, three county officials, three private citizens and three representatives of the executive branch of the federal government. The citizen and executive branch representatives were appointed directly by the President. The state, county, and municipal officials were appointed by the President from nominations submitted by national organizations of state and local governments.[http://www.library.unt.edu/gpo/acir/Default.html Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Home Page], archived May 15, 1996 ACIR had a professional staff of between 15 and 30 people who conducted research for the organization.[http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-forgotten-federalism.html Holeywell, Ryan. 2013. "What Happened to Federalism?" Governing, May].

It was terminated by the 1996 budget by a Republican-dominated Congress and with support of president Bill Clinton, who became displeased with ACIR's handling of unfunded federal mandates.{{citation |url=http://publius.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/2/111.short |title=Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations in 1996: The End of an Era |first=Bruce D. |last=McDowell |journal=Publius |volume=27|number=2, Spring 1997 |pages=111–127 |year=1997 |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubjof.a029901 |url-access=subscription }}