The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) brings together the Nation's foremost luminaries in science and technology to advise the President and provide recommendations on strengthening American leadership in science and technology.
What power does the council have? The council is purely advisory in nature and has no decision-making powers. It "does not exercise program management responsibilities and makes no decisions directly affecting the programs on which it provides advice," the charter reads. "The Secretary of Transportation may accept or reject a recommendation made by the Council and is not bound to pursue any of its recommendations."