Members of the commission conducted a methodical and scholarly survey over two and a half years in order to examine "gray areas" where the separation of powers was not clearly delineated. In their report, the commissioners identified five areas where the branches of the government grapple from time to time for dominance, and made specific recommendations for future procedures in each.

The current judicial selection process, which requires nomination by the president and confirmation by the Senate, has led to increasing delays in filling open judicial seats as the size of the federal judiciary continues to grow. The Commission brought together a number of scholars to review the selection process of federal judges and outline means for streamlining the confirmation process so that vacant judicial seats would be filled more expeditiously.

Growing recognition of the importance of the vice presidency led the Miller Center to organize a commission examining the criteria and qualifications for the selection of a vice president.

The growth of science related questions and the magnitude and urgency of issues involving economic problems, advances in biotechnology, and concerns about ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect suggested to the Miller Center a need to re-examine the basic relationships between science and government. The Commission concluded that the argument for a science advisory mechanism within the White House was conclusive.

The commission examined the 25th Amendment in order to identify potential difficulties in presidential succession that might arise in extremely complicated scenarios. Following its examination, the commission strongly urged the provision of a guide for future applications of the 25th Amendment and contingency planning intended to assure prompt application in a matter faithful both to the spirit of the Constitution and the intent of the framers of this Amendment.

Whenever it confronts the age-old problems of the transfer of power and authority, the United States faces no set of issues more pressing and important that those concerning foreign relations. The Commission, which included representatives of both incoming and outgoing administrations in each of the postwar transitions, examined the impact of changes in administrations and their impact on foreign policy.