United States. National Labor Relations Board. Office of the General Counsel

The General Counsel, whose service began prior to 1947 were appointed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); those whose terms began subsequently were appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a 4-year term. The General Counsel was independent from the NLRB and was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of unfair labor practice cases and for the general supervision of the NLRB field offices in the processing of cases.

Organizationally, the act made the General Counsel a presidential appointee, independent of the board itself, and gave the General Counsel limited powers to seek injunctions without referring to the Justice Department. It also banned the NLRB from engaging in any mediation or conciliation, and formally enshrined in law the ban on hiring personnel to do economic data collection or analysis