; and (6) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of the leadership of the House of Representatives of the Democratic Party. (b) Qualifications; initial meeting (1) Political party affiliation Not more than 5 members of the Commission shall be from the same political party. (2) Nongovernmental appointees An individual appointed to the Commission may not be an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State or local government. (3) Other qualifications It is the sense of Congress that individuals appointed to the Commission should be prominent United States citizens, with national recognition and significant depth of experience in such professions as health, manufacturing, agriculture, emergency planning, governmental service, law enforcement, the Armed Services, law, public administration, commerce, and disaster relief. (4) Initial meeting The Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the Commission as soon as practicable. (c) Quorum; vacancies After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members. Six members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 204. Functions of Commission The functions of the Commission are to make recommendations to the President on what resources are necessarily to properly address a wide range of physical and health national disasters. 205. Powers of Commission (a) In general (1) Hearings and evidence The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this title— (A) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths