Publication Of The Rules Of The Committee On Administration, 110th Congress
Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(3) of Rule XI, by direction of the Committee on House Administration I submit the rules of the Committee for the 110th Congress for publication at an appropriate place in the Congressional Record.…
Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(3) of Rule XI, by direction of the Committee on House Administration I submit the rules of the Committee for the 110th Congress for publication at an appropriate place in the Congressional Record.
Rules of the Committee on House Administration--One Hundred Tenth
Congress
Rule No. 1
General provisions
(a) The Rules of the House are the rules of the Committee
so far as applicable, except that a motion to recess from day
to day is a privileged motion in the Committee. Each
subcommittee of the committee is a part of the committee and
is subject to the authority and direction of the chair and to
its rules as far as applicable.
(b) The Committee is authorized at any time to conduct such
investigations and studies as it may consider necessary or
appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under
House Rule X and, subject to the adoption of expense
resolutions as required by House Rule X, clause 6, to incur
expenses (including travel expenses) in connection therewith.
(c) The Committee is authorized to have printed and bound
testimony and other data presented at hearings held by the
Committee, and to make such information available to the
public. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in
connection with any meeting or hearing of the Committee shall
be paid from the appropriate House account.
(d) The Committee shall submit to the House, not later than
January 2 of each odd-numbered year, a report on the
activities of the committee under House Rules X and XI during
the Congress ending at noon on January 3 of such year.
(e) The Committee's rules shall be published in the
Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the
Committee is elected in each odd-numbered year.
Rule No. 2
Regular and special meetings
(a) The regular meeting date of the Committee on House
Administration shall be the second Wednesday of every month
when the House is in session in accordance with Clause 2(b)
of House Rule XI. Additional meetings may be called by the
Chair of the Committee as she or he may deem necessary or at
the request of a majority of the members of the Committee in
accordance with Clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. The
determination of the business to be considered at each
meeting shall be made by the Chair subject to Clause 2(c) of
House Rule XI. A regularly scheduled meeting may be dispensed
with if, in the judgment of the Chair, there is no need for
the meeting.
(b) If the Chair is not present at any meeting of the
Committee, or at the discretion of the Chair, the Vice Chair
of the Committee shall preside at the meeting. If the Chair
and Vice Chair of the Committee are not present at any
meeting of the Committee, the ranking member of the majority
party who is present shall preside at the meeting.
Rule No. 3
Open meetings
As required by Clause 2(g), of House Rule XI, each meeting
for the transaction of business, including the markup of
legislation of the Committee shall be open to the public
except when the Committee in open session and with a quorum
present determines by record vote that all or part of the
remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the
public because disclosure of matters to be considered would
endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law
enforcement information, or would tend to defame, degrade or
incriminate any person, or otherwise would violate any law or
rule of the House: Provided, however, that no person other
than members of the Committee, and such congressional staff
and such other persons as the Committee may authorize, shall
be present in any business or markup session which has been
closed to the public.
Rule No. 4
Records and rollcalls
(a)(1) A record vote shall be held if requested by any
member of the Committee.
(2) The result of each record vote in any meeting of the
Committee shall be made available for inspection by the
public at reasonable times at the Committee offices,
including a description of the amendment, motion, order or
other proposition; the name of each member voting for and
against; and the members present but not voting.
(b)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the Chair may postpone
further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the
question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an
amendment. The Chair may resume proceedings on a postponed
request at any time.
(2) In exercising postponement authority under subparagraph
(1), the Chair shall take all reasonable steps necessary to
notify members on the resumption of proceedings on any
postponed record vote.
(3) When proceedings resume on a postponed question,
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the
question was postponed.
(c) All Committee and subcommittee hearings, records, data,
charts, and files shall be kept separate and distinct from
the congressional office records of the member serving
as Chair; and such records shall be the property of the
House and all members of the House shall have access
thereto.
(d) House records of the Committee which are at the
National Archives shall be made available pursuant to House
Rule VII. The Chair shall notify the ranking minority member
of any decision to withhold a record pursuant to the rule,
and shall present the matter to the Committee upon written
request of any Committee member.
(e) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall
make its publications available in electronic form.
Rule No. 5
Proxies
No vote by any member in the Committee may be cast by
proxy.
Rule No. 6
Power to sit and act subpoena power
(a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions
and duties under House Rules X and XI, the Committee or any
subcommittee thereof is authorized (subject to subparagraph
(b)(1) of this paragraph)--
(1) to sit and act at such times and places within the
United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed,
or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings; and
(2) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance
and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such
books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers,
documents and other materials as it deems necessary,
including materials in electronic form. The Chair, or any
member designated by the Chair, may administer oaths to any
witness.
(b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the
Committee or subcommittee in the conduct of any investigation
or series of investigations or activities, only when
authorized by a majority of the members voting, a majority
being present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas
under subparagraph (a)(2) may be delegated to the Chair
pursuant to such rules and under such limitations as the
Committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed
by the Chair or by any member designated by the Committee,
and may be served by any person designated by the Chair or
such member.
(2) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the Committee or
a subcommittee may be enforced only as authorized or directed
by the House.
Rule No. 7
Quorums
No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House
unless a majority of the Committee is actually present. For
the purposes of taking any action other than reporting any
measure, issuance of a subpoena, closing meetings,
promulgating Committee orders, or changing the rules of the
Committee, one-third of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum. For purposes of taking testimony and
receiving evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.
Rule No. 8
Amendments
Any amendment offered to any pending legislation before the
Committee or a subcommittee must be made available in written
form when requested by any member of the Committee. If such
amendment is not available in written form when requested,
the Chair will allow an appropriate period of time for the
provision thereof.
Rule No. 9
Hearing procedures
(a) The Chair, in the case of hearings to be conducted by
the Committee, and the appropriate subcommittee chair, in the
case of hearings to be conducted by a subcommittee, shall
make public announcement of the date, place, and subject
matter of any hearing to be conducted on any measure or
matter at least one (1) week before the commencement of that
hearing. If the Chair, with the concurrence of the ranking
minority member,
determines that there is good cause to begin the hearing
sooner, or if the Committee so determines by majority vote, a
quorum being present, the Chair shall make the announcement
at the earliest possible date. The clerk of the Committee
shall promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the
Congressional Record as soon as possible after such public
announcement is made.
(b) Unless excused by the Chair, each witness who is to
appear before the Committee or a subcommittee shall file with
the clerk of the Committee, at least 48 hours in advance of
his or her appearance, a written statement of his or her
proposed testimony and shall limit his or her oral
presentation to a summary of his or her statement.
(c) When any hearing is conducted by the Committee upon any
measure or matter, the minority party members on the
Committee shall be entitled, upon request to the Chair by a
majority of those minority members before the completion of
such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to
testify with respect to that measure or matter during at
least one day of hearings thereon.
(d) All other members of the Committee may have the
privilege of sitting with any subcommittee during its
hearings or deliberations and may participate in such
hearings or deliberations, but no member who is not a member
of the subcommittee shall count for a quorum or offer any
motion or amendment or vote on any matter before the
subcommittee.
(e) Committee or subcommittee members may question
witnesses only when they have been recognized by the Chair
for that purpose, and only for a 5-minute period until all
members present have had an opportunity to question a
witness. The 5-minute period for questioning a witness by any
one member can be extended as provided by House Rules. The
questioning of a witness in Committee or subcommittee
hearings shall be initiated by the Chair, followed by the
ranking minority member and all other members alternating
between the majority and minority. In recognizing members to
question witnesses in this fashion, the Chair shall take into
consideration the ratio of the majority to minority members
present and shall establish the order of recognition for
questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the
members of the majority. The Chair may accomplish this by
recognizing two majority members for each minority member
recognized.
(f) The following additional rules shall apply to hearings
of the Committee or a subcommittee, as applicable:
(1) The Chair at a hearing shall announce in an opening
statement the subject of the investigation.
(2) A copy of the Committee rules and this clause shall be
made available to each witness as provided by clause 2(k)(2)
of Rule XI.
(3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own
counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their
constitutional rights.
(4) The Chair may punish breaches of order and decorum, and
of professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and
exclusion from the hearings; and the Committee may cite the
offender to the House for contempt.
(5) If the Committee determines that evidence or testimony
at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any
person, it shall--
(A) afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to appear
as a witness;
(B) receive such evidence or testimony in executive
session; and
(C) receive and dispose of requests from such person to
subpoena additional witnesses.
(6) Except as provided in subparagraph (f)(5), the Chair
shall receive and the Committee shall dispose of requests to
subpoena additional witnesses.
(7) No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may
be released or used in public sessions without the consent of
the Committee.
(8) In the discretion of the Committee, witnesses may
submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for
inclusion in the record. The Committee is the sole judge of
the pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at its
hearing.
(9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his testimony
given at a public session or, if given at an executive
session, when authorized by the Committee.
Rule No. 10
Procedures for reporting measures or matters
(a)(1) It shall be the duty of the Chair to report or cause
to be reported promptly to the House any measure approved by
the Committee and to take or cause to be taken necessary
steps to bring the matter to a vote.
(2) In any event, the report of the Committee on a measure
which has been approved by the Committee shall be filed
within 7 calendar days (exclusive of days on which the House
is not in session) after the day on which there has been
filed with the clerk of the Committee a written request,
signed by a majority of the members of the Committee, for the
reporting of that measure. Upon the filing of any such
request, the clerk of the Committee shall transmit
immediately to the Chair notice of the filing of that
request.
(b)(1) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to
the House unless a majority of the Committee is actually
present.
(2) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report
any measure or matter of a public character, and on any
amendment offered to the measure or matter, the total number
of votes cast for and against, and the names of those members
voting for and against, shall be included in the Committee
report on the measure or matter.
(c) The report of the Committee on a measure or matter
which has been approved by the Committee shall include the
matters required by Clause 3(c) of Rule XIII of the Rules of
the House.
(d) Each report of the Committee on each bill or joint
resolution of a public character reported by the Committee
shall include a statement citing the specific powers granted
to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed
by the bill or joint resolution.
(e) If, at the time any measure or matter is ordered
reported by the Committee, any member of the Committee gives
notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, or
additional views, that member shall be entitled to not less
than two additional calendar days after the day of such
notice, commencing on the day on which the measure or
matter(s) was approved, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
legal holidays, in which to file such views, in writing and
signed by that member, with the clerk of the Committee. All
such views so filed by one or more members of the Committee
shall be included within, and shall be a part of, the report
filed by the Committee with respect to that measure or
matter. The report of the Committee upon that measure or
matter shall be printed in a single volume which--
(1) shall include all supplemental, minority, or additional
views, in the form submitted, by the time of the filing of
the report, and
(2) shall bear upon its cover a recital that any such
supplemental, minority, or additional views (and any material
submitted under subparagraph (c)) are included as part of the
report. This subparagraph does not preclude --
(A) the immediate filing or printing of a Committee report
unless timely request for the opportunity to file
supplemental, minority, or additional views has been made as
provided by paragraph (c); or
(B) the filing of any supplemental report upon any measure
or matter which may be required for the correction of any
technical error in a previous report made by the Committee
upon that measure or matter.
(3) shall, when appropriate, contain the documents required
by Clause 3(e) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House.
(f) The Chair, following consultation with the ranking
minority member, is directed to offer a motion under clause 1
of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House, relating to going to
conference with the Senate, whenever the Chair considers it
appropriate.
(g) If hearings have been held on any such measure or
matter so reported, the Committee shall make every reasonable
effort to have such hearings published and available to the
members of the House prior to the consideration of such
measure or matter in the House.
(h) The Chair may designate any majority member of the
Committee to act as ``floor manager'' of a bill or resolution
during its consideration in the House.
Rule No. 11
Committee oversight
The Committee shall conduct oversight of matters within the
jurisdiction of the Committee in accordance with House Rule
X, clause 2 and clause 4. Not later than February 15 of the
first session of a Congress, the Committee shall, in a
meeting that is open to the public and with a quorum present,
adopt its oversight plan for that Congress in accordance with
House Rule X, clause 2( d).
Rule No. 12
Review of continuing programs; budget act provisions
(a) The Committee shall, in its consideration of all bills
and joint resolutions of a public character within its
jurisdiction, ensure that appropriation for continuing
programs and activities of the Federal Government will be
made annually to the maximum extent feasible and consistent
with the nature, requirement, and objectives of the programs
and activities involved. For the purposes of this paragraph a
Government agency includes the organizational units of
government listed in Clause 4(e) of Rule X of House Rules.
(b) The Committee shall review, from time to time, each
continuing program within its jurisdiction for which
appropriations are not made annually in order to ascertain
whether such program could be modified so that appropriations
therefor would be made annually.
(c) The Committee shall, on or before February 25 of each
year, submit to the Committee on the Budget (1) its views and
estimates with respect to all matters to be set forth in the
concurrent resolution on the budget for the ensuing fiscal
year which are within its jurisdiction or functions, and (2)
an estimate of the total amounts of new budget authority, and
budget outlays resulting therefrom, to be provided or
authorized in all bills and resolutions within its
jurisdiction which it intends to be effective during that
fiscal year.
(d) As soon as practicable after a concurrent resolution on
the budget for any fiscal year is agreed to, the Committee
(after consulting with the appropriate committee or
committees of the Senate) shall subdivide any allocation made
to it in the joint explanatory statement accompanying the
conference report on such resolution, and
promptly report such subdivisions to the House, in the manner
provided by section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
(e) Whenever the Committee is directed in a concurrent
resolution on the budget to determine and recommend changes
in laws, bills, or resolutions under the reconciliation
process it shall promptly make such determination and
recommendations, and report a reconciliation bill or
resolution (or both) to the House or submit such
recommendations to the Committee on the Budget, in accordance
with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Rule No. 13
Broadcasting of committee hearings and meetings
Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the Committee
is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to
coverage by television, radio, and still photography, as
provided in Clause 4 of House Rule XI, subject to the
limitations therein. Operation and use of any Committee
Internet broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan and
in accordance with Clause 4(b) of rule XI and all other
applicable rules of the Committee and the House.
Rule No. 14
Committee and subcommittee staff
The staff of the Committee on House Administration shall be
appointed as follows:
A. The staff shall be appointed by the Chair or her or his
designee except as provided in paragraph (B), and may be
removed by the Chair and shall work under the general
supervision and direction of the Chair;
B. All staff provided to the minority party members of the
Committee shall be appointed by the ranking member or her or
his designee, and may be removed, by the ranking minority
member of the Committee, and shall work under the general
supervision and direction of such member;
C. The Chair shall fix the compensation of all staff of the
Committee, after consultation with the ranking minority
member regarding any minority party staff, within the budget
approved for such purposes for the Committee.
Rule No. 15
Travel of members and staff
(a) Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such
additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, the
provisions of this rule shall govern travel of Committee
members and staff. Travel for any member or any staff member
shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the Chair
or her or his designee. Travel may be authorized by the Chair
for any member and any staff member in connection with the
attendance at hearings conducted by the Committee and
meetings, conferences, and investigations which involve
activities or subject matter under the general jurisdiction
of the Committee. Before such authorization is given, there
shall be submitted to the Chair in writing the following:
(1) The purpose of the travel;
(2) The dates during which the travel will occur;
(3) The locations to be visited and the length of time to
be spent in each; and
(4) The names of members and staff seeking authorization.
(b)(1) In the case of travel outside the United States of
members and staff of the Committee for the purpose of
conducting hearings, investigations, studies, or attending
meetings and conferences involving activities or subject
matter under the legislative assignment of the committee,
prior authorization must be obtained from the Chair. Before
such authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the
Chair, in writing, a request for such authorization. Each
request, which shall be filed in a manner that allows for a
reasonable period of time for review before such travel is
scheduled to begin, shall include the following:
(A) the purpose of the travel;
(B) the dates during which the travel will occur;
(C) the names of the countries to be visited and the length
of time to be spent in each;
(D) an agenda of anticipated activities for each country
for which travel is authorized together with a description of
the purpose to be served and the areas of committee
jurisdiction involved; and
(E) the names of members and staff for whom authorization
is sought.
(2) At the conclusion of any hearing, investigation, study,
meeting or conference for which travel outside the United
States has been authorized pursuant to this rule, members and
staff attending meetings or conferences shall submit a
written report to the Chair covering the activities and other
pertinent observations or information gained as a result of
such travel.
(c) Members and staff of the Committee performing
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by
applicable laws, resolutions, or regulations of the House and
of the Committee on House Administration pertaining to such
travel.
Rule No. 16
Number and jurisdiction of subcommittees
(a) There shall be two standing subcommittees, with party
ratios of members as indicated. Subcommittees shall have
jurisdictions as stated by these rules, may conduct oversight
over such subject matter, and may consider such legislation
as may be referred to them by the Chair. The names and
jurisdiction of the subcommittees shall be:
(1) Subcommittee on Capitol Security--(2/1). Matters
pertaining to operations and security of the Congress, and of
the Capitol complex including the House wing of the Capitol,
the House Office Buildings, the Library of Congress, and
other policies and facilities supporting congressional
operations; the U.S. Capitol Police.
(2) Subcommittee on Elections--(4/2). Matters pertaining to
the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Federal Contested
Elections Act, the Help America Vote Act, the National Voter
Registration Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act, the Federal Voting Assistance Program,
the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act (accessibility for voters with
disabilities), the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the
Elections Assistance Commission (EAC), and other election
related issues.
(b) The Chair may establish and appoint members to serve on
task forces of the Committee, to perform specific functions
for limited periods of time, as she or he deems appropriate.
Rule No. 17
Referral of legislation to subcommittees
The Chair may refer legislation or other matters to a
subcommittee, or subcommittees, as she or he considers
appropriate. The Chair may discharge any subcommittee of any
matter referred to it.
Rule No. 18
Powers and duties of subcommittees
Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,
receive evidence and report to the full committee on all
matters referred to it. No subcommittee shall meet during any
Committee meeting.
Rule No. 19
Other procedures and regulations
The Chair may establish such other procedures and take such
actions as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing rules
or to facilitate the effective operation of the committee.
Rule No. 20
Designation of clerk of the committee
For the purposes of these rules and the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the staff director of the Committee shall
act as the clerk of the Committee.