President’s Economic Council

The President’s Economic Council was created by the Employment Act as a new institution for assessing economic conditions and considering the effects of government programs. Its establishment placed economic appraisal within the federal government’s continuing responsibilities, although the account gives no details about the council’s membership or later work.

Establishment

The council was established as part of the Employment Act, which Congress passed during Harry S. Truman’s administration. Truman had wanted the law to call for full employment; the enacted measure stopped short of that goal but empowered the federal government to use practical means to foster maximum employment.

Mandate

The council’s stated task was to appraise the economic outlook and consider the effects of government programs on the economy. The account identifies these as connected but distinct functions: assessing the broader economic situation and examining how public action might shape it.

Place in the Employment Act

The council was a new feature of the Employment Act. Its creation accompanied a statutory commitment to promoting maximum employment, even though Congress did not adopt Truman’s preferred full-employment language. The evidence establishes the council’s remit and institutional setting, but does not describe its membership, procedures, or subsequent influence.