Created in 1984 to develop guidelines for use by federal judges in sentencing criminals, the Commission has missed all its deadlines for establishing a system to monitor sentences imposed under the guidelines that became effective November 1987 and has yet to complete a basic design to evaluate the impact of the guidelines. The constitutional challenge, responsible in part for these delays, was resolved a year ago. Several factors contribute to the organizational confusion, also responsible for the delays: failure to establish, until recently, clear lines of authority for the staff director as well as a plan for guiding Commission efforts through the post-guideline development period; possible conflict between the research led by an individual commissioner and staff research along with a lack of accountability for another research project; and vacancies and turnover in key Commission positions. Recommendations to overcome these problems include exploring directly with the Commission ways to strengthen the staff director's role; establishing Congressional oversight for monitoring and evaluation activities; prohibiting commissioner-led research projects not consistent with an overall research agenda; and developing a long-range plan to guide the Commission through its next several years.