This report is the last in the series of seven volumes issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights describing the structure, mechanisms, and procedures utilized by Federal departments and agencies in their efforts to end discrimination against the U.S.'s minority and female citizens. It evaluates the status of civil rights oversight and policymaking by the White House and the Office of Management and Budget during the Nixon and Ford administrations from 1972-1976. It also documents the Civil Rights activities of the two primary Federal field entities; the Federal Regional Councils and the Federal Executive Boards, which have a potential for coordinating the implementation of national civil rights policy. It is concluded that many of the critical failings of the Federal Civil Rights enforcement effort were directly attributable to a void in the process by which civil rights policy is coordinated and executed within the executive branch. Inconsistent and duplicative compliance activities, complaint backlogs, infrequent preaward reviews, confusing or incomplete guidelines and regulations, and uncalled for delays in enforcement were found. Those legally charged with practicing equal opportunity were often provided with too little information as to what the laws demanded of them. Those whom the laws sought to protect were not fully informed of their rights. Federal agency civil rights offices were too frequently left to determine their own priorities. Given the absence of leadership, civil rights offices did not establish programs directed toward the achievement of meaningful results. (Author/AM)