Who is the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution?

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court also holds the position of Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution. The position is akin to that of "Chancellor" of a major university or institution of higher learning.

Congress vested the responsibility the institution's administration to a panel of 17 Regents.

There are six congressional Regents: three Senators are appointed by the President pro tempore of the United States Senate and three Representatives are appointed by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Their terms on the Board coincide with their elected terms in Congress, and they may be reappointed to the Board if reelected.

The other nine Regents are from the general public, two of whom must reside in the District of Columbia and seven of whom must be inhabitants of the 50 states (but no two from the same state). Each is nominated by the Board of Regents and appointed for a statutory term of six years by a Joint Resolution of the Congress, which is then signed into law by the President. In accordance with the Bylaws adopted by the Board of Regents in 1979, citizen members may not serve more than two successive terms.

The Chancellor's duties include residing over all Regent's meetings, insuring the Regents follow decision making procedures and presides over all ceremonies of the institution.

The chancellorship of the Smithsonian is the only chancellor position in the United States established by the Federal government.