1. Committee’s Official Designation

The official designation shall be the Secretary of State’s International Council on Women’s Business Leadership (hereinafter “the Council”).

2. Authority

The Council is established under the general authority of the Secretary of State and the Department of State as set forth in Title 22 of the United States Code, in particular Section 2656 of that Title and consistent with Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C., Appendix). The Under Secretary for Management’s approval of this charter constitutes a determination by the Secretary of State that the establishment and operation of the Council are in the public’s interest in connection with performance of duties of the Department of State.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities

The Council will provide advice and assistance in the formulation of U.S. policy, positions, proposals, and strategies for multilateral and bilateral negotiations, business outreach, and commercial diplomacy, particularly pertaining to the economic empowerment of women for global economic prosperity where the State Department has the lead negotiating authority. The objective of the Council is to bring to the United States government a source of expertise, knowledge, and insight not available within the Department or elsewhere in the government on these issues.

4. Description of Duties

The Council serves the United States government in a solely advisory capacity concerning major issues and problems in international business and economic policy, including performance of the following functions:

(a) To provide information and advice on the effective integration of business interests and women’s economic empowerment into overall foreign policy;

(b) To appraise the role and limits of international economic institutions from a gender-specific perspective; and

(c) To provide information and advice on the Department of State’s role in advancing and promoting the role of women in a competitive global economy.

The Council will consult with other interested parties, agencies, and interagency committees and groups of the United States government, foreign governments, and with national and international private sector organizations and individuals as the Department of State and the Council decide are necessary or desirable.

5. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports

The Council shall report to the Secretary of State or as the Secretary may direct depending on the subject matter of the report. Such reports may be oral or written.

6. Support

The Department of State, Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs and the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues shall supply all staff and support functions for the Council.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years

All funding necessary for the organization and operation of the Council shall be supplied from funds available to the Secretary. Projected full-time equivalent are as follows: 0.20 for the Executive Secretary and 0.20 for another staff officer. Projected annual costs of operation are:

The members of the Council shall serve without compensation.

8. Designated Federal Officer

The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, shall appoint an Executive Secretary who will serve as the Council’s Designated Federal Officer. The Executive Secretary shall approve and attend all meetings and shall advise the Chair to adjourn, or shall herself/himself adjourn any meeting when in the public interest. The Executive Secretary will prepare and approve the agenda, and shall insure that the minutes of each meeting are prepared, the accuracy of which the Chair shall certify, and which shall at a minimum contain: a record of the membership present; members of the public who participate in the meeting and the interest and affiliations they represent; a description of matters and material discussed and the conclusions, if any, reached, and the rationale for any recommendations made by members of the Council. The Executive Secretary will also maintain copies of all reports the Council receives, issues, or approves.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

It is anticipated that the Council will meet at least once a year and at such other times and places as are required to fulfill the objectives of the Council. Subcommittees and working groups will meet as appropriate for their assigned responsibilities.

10. Duration

It is anticipated that there will be a continuing need for the advice offered by this Council. The Department will periodically review this need.

11. Termination

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Council will terminate two years from the date of filing this Charter, unless it is formally determined to be in the public interest to continue it for another two years.

12. Membership and Designation

(a) The size of the Council shall not be fixed, except that total membership will not exceed 24 members.

(b) The membership of the Council will consist of representatives who are leaders of American and foreign public and private sector organizations and institutions having an interest in the role of women in international business and economic policy, and may include: leaders of American and foreign multinational business with significant economic policy and international trade interests; leaders of public interest groups, and/or faith-based, trade, and professional organizations, whose membership stands to be affected by international economic policy; legal or business leaders well-versed in such economic and gender aspects of foreign affairs and economic development; academic leaders of various scholarly approaches to the contributions of women in international economic policy development and global economic growth .

(c) The Secretary of State shall invite the members to serve for a period of two years or less. Vacancies may be filled as they occur.

(d) The officers of the Council shall consist of a Chair, two Vice Chairs, an Executive Secretary, and such other positions as the Secretary shall determine, and the Secretary shall appoint these individuals at such times and for such periods as she or he shall determine. The Executive Secretary shall be the Designated Federal Officer.

(e) The Committee’s officers will have the following responsibilities:

1. The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the Council. The Chair will participate in the development of the Council’s program.

2. One of the Vice Chairs shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair.

3. The Executive Secretary will have the duties listed in Section 8, above.

13. Subcommittees

The Secretary may establish appropriate subcommittees or working groups to carry out assigned responsibilities. The Council shall provide such guidance and direction as is necessary and appropriate to ensure the effective functioning of such subcommittees or working groups as established. Any subcommittees must report back to the Council, and shall not provide advice or work products directly to the Department of State.

14. Recordkeeping

The records of the Council and any subcommittees shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2, and shall include, for example, all papers and documents pertinent to the Council's establishment and activities, including its Charter, agendas, determinations for closing Council meetings to the public, proceedings, the membership list of the Council, all written communications between the Department and the Council, and all written materials and reports considered by the Council. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

15. Filing date: February 16, 2011

Now, thereby, this Charter shall be considered approved by the Department of State as of this date and shall be considered filed as of the date when copies have been provided to the appropriate standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives having legislative jurisdiction over the Department of State and to the Library of Congress pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Approved: ____________________________
Patrick F. Kennedy
Under Secretary of State for Management

Date: (Signed Feb. 1, 2011)