Blue-ribbon committee

A blue-ribbon committee, in the United States, is a group of exceptional people appointed to investigate, study, or analyze a given question, typically operating with considerable independence from political pressure and without direct decision-making authority of its own; its main function is to apply specialized expertise to produce findings and recommendations that policymakers can use to guide their own decisions. Such committees are commonly convened by government officials or executives to address controversial matters, drawing members from independent scientific experts, academics not affiliated with government agencies, or prominent citizens known for their intelligence, experience, and nonpartisan approach. The blue-ribbon label is meant to signal that a committee is made up of the most qualified people available and that the appointing authority is bringing in fresh, outside perspective on an issue, though critics sometimes dispute whether a given committee truly merits the label, viewing the designation instead as a way for authorities to deflect accountability. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/