United States Sentencing Commission

The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the United States federal government, established by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. It is composed of voting commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, with statutory requirements for bipartisan and judicial representation. The Commission develops the federal sentencing guidelines that courts consult when imposing criminal sentences, and it periodically amends them subject to congressional review. It also collects and analyzes federal sentencing data, conducts research, and reports to Congress and the public. The guidelines it issues are advisory following court rulings, meaning judges consider but are not strictly bound by them. The Commission's role is to study sentencing practice and set guideline policy, not to decide individual cases.