The Commission on Bulgarian Citizenship and Bulgarians Abroad is a permanent subsidiary body to the Administration of the President that acts in an advisory capacity. The Commission supports the Vice President of the Republic, to whom the head of state issued a decree devolving the implementation of the functions in art. 98, section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Commission assists the Vice President in the implementation of policy on Bulgarians abroad. The operating rules of the Commission on Bulgarian Citizenship and Bulgarians Abroad were approved by Presidential Decree ? 212 of June 1 2012.