R.S. § 5580 derived from acts Aug. 10, 1846, ch. 178, § 3, 9 Stat. 103; Jan. 10, 1865, ch. 11, 13 Stat. 420; Mar. 20, 1871, ch. 1, 17 Stat. 1.

1998—Pub. L. 105–277 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1970—Pub. L. 91–551 authorized three additional persons on the Board of Regents.

1894—Act Mar. 12, 1894, struck out “the governor of the District of Columbia” after “the Chief Justice of the United States,”.