Meetings (A) Initial meeting The Commission shall hold its initial meeting and begin the operations of the Commission as soon as is practicable. (B) Further Meetings The Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members. (6) Quorum Seven voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. (7) Member of Congress Defined In this subsection, the term Member of Congress means a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. (e) Powers (1) Hearings and sessions The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, receive evidence, or administer oaths as the Commission or such subcommittee or member thereof considers appropriate. (2) Contract authority To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes ( 41 U.S.C. 5 ). (3) Obtaining official data (A) In general The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, any information, including suggestions, estimates, or statistics, for the purposes of this section. (B) Requesting official data The head of such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the government shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information upon request made by— (i) the Chair