[House Prints, 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



 
                                 RULES
                                 of the
                           COMMITTEE ON RULES

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 of the

                             UNITED STATES

                             109TH CONGRESS

                               2005-2006

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


             Printed for the use of the Committee on Rules
                                    


                                 RULES

                                 of the

                           COMMITTEE ON RULES

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 of the

                             UNITED STATES

                             109TH CONGRESS

                               2005-2006

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#13


             Printed for the use of the Committee on Rules
                           COMMITTEE ON RULES

                   DAVID DREIER, California, Chairman
LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART, Florida, Vice   LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER, New 
    Chairman                             York
DOC HASTINGS, Washington             JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts
PETE SESSIONS, Texas                 ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
ADAM H. PUTNAM, Florida              DORIS O. MATSUI, California
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia
TOM COLE, Oklahoma
ROB BISHOP, Utah
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
                      Hugh Halpern, Staff Director
                  John Daniel, Minority Staff Director

             Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process

                 LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART, Florida, Chairman
PETE SESSIONS, Texas,                ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
  Vice Chairman                      LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER, New 
ROB BISHOP, Utah                         York
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
DAVID DREIER, California

          Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House

                   DOC HASTINGS, Washington, Chairman
ADAM H. PUTNAM, Florida,             JAMES McGOVERN, Massachusetts
  Vice Chairman                      DORIS O. MATSUI, California
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia
TOM COLE, Oklahoma
DAVID DREIER, California
                    RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             109th CONGRESS

                       Rule 1--General Provisions

    (a) The rules of the House are the rules of the Committee 
and its subcommittees so far as applicable, except that a 
motion to recess from day to day, and a motion to dispense with 
the first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed 
copies are available, are non-debatable privileged motions in 
the Committee. A proposed investigative or oversight report 
shall be considered as read if it has been available to the 
members of the Committee for at least 24 hours (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is 
in session on such day).
    (b) Each subcommittee is a part of the Committee, and is 
subject to the authority and direction of the Committee and to 
its rules so far as applicable.
    (c) The provisions of clause 2 of rule XI of the rules of 
the House are incorporated by reference as the rules of the 
Committee to the extent applicable.
    (d) 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 2--Regular, Additional, and Special Meetings


                            REGULAR MEETINGS


    (a)(1) The Committee shall regularly meet at 5 p.m. on 
Tuesday of each week when the House is in session.
    (2) A regular meeting of the Committee may be dispensed 
with if, in the judgment of the Chairman of the Committee 
(hereafter in these rules referred to as the ``Chair''), there 
is no need for the meeting.
    (3) Additional regular meetings and hearings of the 
Committee may be called by the Chair.


                      NOTICE FOR REGULAR MEETINGS


    (b) The Chair shall notify each member of the Committee of 
the agenda of each regular meeting of the Committee at least 48 
hours before the time of the meeting and shall provide to each 
member of the Committee, at least 24 hours before the time of 
each regular meeting.
          (1) for each bill or resolution scheduled on the 
        agenda for consideration of a rule, a copy of--
                  (A) the bill or resolution;
                  (B) any committee reports thereon; and
                  (C) any letter requesting a rule for the bill 
                or resolution; and
          (2) for each other bill, resolution, report, or other 
        matter on the agenda a copy of--
                  (A) the bill, resolution, report, or 
                materials relating to the other matter in 
                question; and
                  (B) any report on the bill, resolution, 
                report, or any other matter made by any 
                subcommittee of the Committee.


                           EMERGENCY MEETINGS


    (c)(1) The Chair may call an emergency meeting of the 
Committee at any time on any measure or matter which the Chair 
determines to be of an emergency nature; provided, however, 
that the Chair has made an effort to consult the ranking 
minority member, or, in such member's absence, the next ranking 
minority party member of the Committee.
    (2) As soon as possible after calling an emergency meeting 
of the Committee, the Chair shall notify each member of the 
Committee of the time and location of the meeting.
    (3) To the extent feasible, the notice provided under 
paragraph (2) shall include the agenda for the emergency 
meeting and copies of available materials which would otherwise 
have been provided under subsection (b) if the emergency 
meeting was a regular meeting.


                            SPECIAL MEETINGS


    (d) Special meetings shall be called and convened as 
provided in clause 2(c)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House.

                 Rule 3--Meeting and Hearing Procedures


                               IN GENERAL


    (a)(1) Meetings and hearings of the Committee shall be 
called to order and presided over by the Chair or, in the 
Chair's absence, by the member designated by the Chair as the 
Vice Chair of the Committee, or by the ranking majority member 
of the Committee present as Acting Chair.
    (2) Meetings and hearings of the committee shall be open to 
the public unless closed in accordance with clause 2(g) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
    (3) Any meeting or hearing of the Committee that is open to 
the public shall be open to coverage by television, radio, and 
still photography in accordance with the provisions of clause 4 
of rule XI of the rules of the House (which are incorporated by 
reference as part of these rules).
    (4) When a recommendation is made as to the kind of rule 
which should be granted for consideration of a bill or 
resolution, a copy of the language recommended shall be 
furnished to each member of the Committee at the beginning of 
the Committee meeting at which the rule is to be considered or 
as soon thereafter as the proposed language becomes available.


                                 QUORUM


    (b)(1) For the purpose of hearing testimony on requests for 
rules, five members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
    (2) For the purpose of taking testimony and receiving 
evidence on measures or matters of original jurisdiction before 
the Committee, three members of the Committee shall constitute 
a quorum.
    (3) A majority of the members of the Committee shall 
constitute a quorum for the purposes of reporting any measure 
or matter, of authorizing a subpoena, of closing a meeting or 
hearing pursuant to clause 2(g) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House (except as provided in clause 2(g)(2)(A) and (B), or of 
taking any other action.

                                 VOTING

    (c)(1) No vote may be conducted on any measure or motion 
pending before the Committee unless a majority of the members 
of the Committee is actually present for such purpose.
    (2) A record vote of the Committee shall be provided on any 
question before the Committee upon the request of any member.
    (3) No vote by any member of the Committee on any measure 
or matter may be cast by proxy.
    (4) A record of the vote of each Member of the Committee on 
each record vote on any matter before the Committee shall be 
available for public inspection at the offices of the 
Committee, and with respect to any record vote on any motion to 
amend or report, shall be included in the report of the 
Committee showing the total number of votes cast for and 
against and the names of those members voting for and against.

                           HEARING PROCEDURES

    (d)(1) With regard to hearings on matters of original 
jurisdiction, to the greatest extent practicable:
          (A) each witness who is to appear before the 
        Committee shall file with the committee at least 24 
        hours in advance of the appearance a statement of 
        proposed testimony in written and electronic form and 
        shall limit the oral presentation to the Committee to a 
        brief summary thereof; and
          (B) each witness appearing in a non-governmental 
        capacity shall include with the statement of proposed 
        testimony provided in written and electronic form a 
        curriculum vitae and a disclosure of the amount and 
        source (by agency and program) of any Federal grant (or 
        subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof) 
        received during the current fiscal year or either of 
        the two preceding fiscal years.
    (2) The five-minute rule shall be observed in the 
interrogation of each witness before the Committee until each 
member of the Committee has had an opportunity to question the 
witness.
    (3) The provisions of clause 2(k) of rule XI of the rules 
of the House shall apply to any hearing conducted by the 
committee.

                          SUBPOENAS AND OATHS

    (e)(1) Pursuant to clause 2(m) of rule XI of the rules of 
the House of Representatives, a subpoena may be authorized and 
issued by the Committee or a 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.
    (2) The Chair may authorize and issue subpoenas under such 
clause during any period in which the House has adjourned for a 
period of longer than three days.
    (3) 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.
    (4) The Chair, or any member of the Committee designated by 
the Chair, may administer oaths to witnesses before the 
Committee.

               Rule 4--General Oversight Responsibilities

    (a) The Committee shall review and study, on a continuing 
basis, the application, administration, execution, and 
effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject 
matter of which is within its jurisdiction.
    (b) Not later than February 15 of the first session of a 
Congress, the committee shall meet in open session, with a 
quorum present, to adopt its oversight plans for that Congress 
for submission to the Committee on House Administration and the 
Committee on Government Reform, in accordance with the 
provisions of clause 2(d) of House rule X.

                         Rule 5--Subcommittees


          ESTABLISHMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SUBCOMMITTEES

    (a)(1) There shall be two subcommittees of the Committee as 
follows:
          (A) Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, 
        which shall have general responsibility for measures or 
        matters related to relations between the Congress and 
        the Executive Branch.
          (B) Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the 
        House, which shall have general responsibility for 
        measures or matters related to process and procedures 
        of the House, relations between the two Houses of 
        Congress, relations between the Congress and the 
        Judiciary, and internal operations of the House.
    (2) In addition, each such subcommittee shall have specific 
responsibility for such other measures or matters as the Chair 
refers to it.
    (3) Each subcommittee of the Committee shall review and 
study, on a continuing basis, the application, administration, 
execution, and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, 
the subject matter of which is within its general 
responsibility.

           REFERRAL OF MEASURES AND MATTERS TO SUBCOMMITTEES

    (b)(1) In view of the unique procedural responsibilities of 
the Committee, no special order providing for the consideration 
of any bill or resolution shall be referred to a subcommittee 
of the Committee.
    (2) The Chair shall refer to a subcommittee such measures 
or matters of original jurisdiction as the Chair deems 
appropriate given its jurisdiction and responsibilities.
    (3) All other measures or matters of original jurisdiction 
shall be subject to consideration by the full Committee.
    (4) In referring any measure or matter of original 
jurisdiction to a subcommittee, the Chair may specify a date by 
which the subcommittee shall report thereon to the Committee.
    (5) The Committee by motion may discharge a subcommittee 
from consideration of any measure or matter referred to a 
subcommittee of the Committee.

                      COMPOSITION OF SUBCOMMITTEES

    (c) The size and ratio of each subcommittee shall be 
determined by the Committee and members shall be elected to 
each subcommittee, and to the positions of chairman and ranking 
minority member thereof, in accordance with the rules of the 
respective party caucuses. The Chair of the full committee 
shall designate a member of the majority party on each 
subcommittee as its vice chairman.

                   SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS AND HEARINGS

    (d)(1) Each subcommittee of the Committee is authorized to 
meet, hold hearings, receive testimony, mark up legislation, 
and report to the full Committee on any measure or matter 
referred to it.
    (2) No subcommittee of the Committee may meet or hold a 
hearing at the same time as a meeting or hearing of the full 
Committee is being held.
    (3) The chairman of each subcommittee shall schedule 
meetings and hearings of the subcommittee only after 
consultation with the Chair.

                                 QUORUM

    (e)(1) For the purpose of taking testimony, two members of 
the subcommittee shall constitute a quorum.
    (2) For all other purposes, a quorum shall consist of a 
majority of the members of a subcommittee.

                          EFFECT OF A VACANCY

    (f) Any vacancy in the membership of a subcommittee shall 
not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the 
functions of the subcommittee.

                                RECORDS

    (g) Each subcommittee of the Committee shall provide the 
full Committee with copies of such records of votes taken in 
the subcommittee and such other records with respect to the 
subcommittee necessary for the Committee to comply with all 
rules and regulations of the House.

                             Rule 6--Staff


                               IN GENERAL

    (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
professional and other staff of the Committee shall be 
appointed, by the Chair, and shall work under the general 
supervision and direction of the Chair.
    (2) All professional, and other staff provided to the 
minority party members of the Committee shall be appointed, by 
the ranking minority member of the Committee, and shall work 
under the general supervision and direction of such member.
    (3) The appointment of all professional staff shall be 
subject to the approval of the Committee as provided by, and 
subject to the provisions of, clause 9 of rule X of the Rules 
of the House.

                            ASSOCIATE STAFF

    (b) Associate staff for members of the Committee may be 
appointed only at the discretion of the Chair (in consultation 
with the ranking minority member regarding any minority party 
associate staff), after taking into account any staff ceilings 
and budgetary constraints in effect at the time, and any terms, 
limits, or conditions established by the Committee on House 
Administration under clause 9 of rule X of the Rules of the 
House.

                           SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF

    (c) From funds made available for the appointment of staff, 
the Chair of the Committee shall, pursuant to clause 6(d) of 
rule X of the Rules of the House, ensure that sufficient staff 
is made available to each subcommittee to carry out its 
responsibilities under the Rules of the Committee, and, after 
consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee, 
that the minority party of the Committee is treated fairly in 
the appointment of such staff.

                         COMPENSATION OF STAFF

    (d) The Chair shall fix the compensation of all 
professional and other staff of the Committee, after 
consultation with the ranking minority member regarding any 
minority party staff.

                         CERTIFICATION OF STAFF

    (e)(1) To the extent any staff member of the Committee or 
any of its subcommittees does not work under the direct 
supervision and direction of the Chair, the Member of the 
Committee who supervises and directs the staff members' work 
shall file with the Chief of Staff of the Committee (not later 
than the tenth day of each month) a certification regarding the 
staff member's work for that member for the preceding calendar 
month.
    (2) The certification required by paragraph (1) shall be in 
such form as the Chair may prescribe, shall identify each staff 
member by name, and shall state that the work engaged in by the 
staff member and the duties assigned to the staff member for 
the member of the Committee with respect to the month in 
question met the requirements of clause 9 of rule X of the 
rules of the House.
    (3) Any certification of staff of the Committee, or any of 
its subcommittees, made by the Chair in compliance with any 
provision of law or regulation shall be made--
          (A) on the basis of the certifications filed under 
        paragraph (1) to the extent the staff is not under the 
        Chair's supervision and direction, and;
          (B) on his own responsibility to the extent the staff 
        is under the Chair's direct supervision and direction.

                Rule 7--Budget, Travel, Pay of Witnesses


                                 BUDGET

    (a) The Chair, in consultation with other members of the 
Committee, shall prepare for each Congress a budget providing 
amounts for staff, necessary travel, investigation, and other 
expenses of the Committee and its subcommittees.

                                 TRAVEL

    (b)(1) The Chair may authorize travel for any member and 
any staff member of the Committee in connection with activities 
or subject matters under the general jurisdiction of the 
Committee. Before such authorization is granted, there shall be 
submitted to the Chair in writing the following:
          (A) The purpose of the travel.
          (B) The dates during which the travel is to occur.
          (C) The names of the States or countries to be 
        visited and the length of time to be spent in each.
          (D) The names of members and staff of the Committee 
        for whom the authorization is sought.
    (2) Members and staff of the Committee shall make a written 
report to the Chair on any travel they have conducted under 
this subsection, including a description of their itinerary, 
expenses, and activities, and of pertinent information gained 
as a result of such travel.
    (3) Members and staff of the Committee performing 
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by 
applicable laws, resolutions, and regulations of the House and 
of the Committee on House Administration.

                            PAY OF WITNESSES

    (c) Witnesses may be paid from funds made available to the 
Committee in its expense resolution subject to the provisions 
of clause 5 of rule XI of the rules of the House.

                    Rule 8--Committee Administration


                               REPORTING

    (a) Whenever the Committee authorizes the favorable 
reporting of a bill or resolution from the Committee--
          (1) the Chair or acting Chair shall report it to the 
        House or designate a member of the Committee to do so, 
        and;
          (2) in the case of a bill or resolution in which the 
        Committee has original jurisdiction, the Chair shall 
        allow, to the extent that the anticipated floor 
        schedule permits, any member of the Committee a 
        reasonable amount of time to submit views for inclusion 
        in the Committee report on the bill or resolution.
    Any such report shall contain all matters required by the 
rules of the House of Representatives (or by any provision of 
law enacted as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the 
House) and such other information as the Chair deems 
appropriate.

                                RECORDS

    (b)(1) There shall be a transcript made of each regular 
meeting and hearing of the Committee, and the transcript may be 
printed if the Chair decides it is appropriate or if a majority 
of the Members of the Committee requests such printing. Any 
such transcripts shall be a substantially verbatim account of 
remarks actually made during the proceedings, subject only to 
technical, grammatical, and typographical corrections 
authorized by the person making the remarks. Nothing in this 
paragraph shall be construed to require that all such 
transcripts be subject to correction and publication.
    (2) The Committee shall keep a record of all actions of the 
Committee and of its subcommittees. The record shall contain 
all information required by clause 2(e)(1) of rule XI of the 
rules of the House of Representatives and shall be available 
for public inspection at reasonable times in the offices of the 
Committee.
    (3) All Committee hearings, records, data, charts, and 
files shall be kept separate and distinct from the 
congressional office records of the Chair, shall be the 
property of the House, and all Members of the House shall have 
access thereto as provided in clause 2(e)(2) of rule XI of the 
Rules of the House.
    (4) The records of the Committee at the National Archives 
and Records Administration shall be made available for public 
use in accordance with rule VII of the rules of the House. The 
Chair shall notify the ranking minority member of any decision, 
pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of the rule, to 
withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter shall be 
presented to the Committee for a determination on written 
request of any member of the Committee.

                 COMMITTEE PUBLICATIONS ON THE INTERNET

    (c) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall 
make its publications available in electronic form.

                               CALENDARS

    (d)(1) The Committee shall maintain a Committee Calendar, 
which shall include all bills, resolutions, and other matters 
referred to or reported by the Committee and all bills, 
resolutions, and other matters reported by any other committee 
on which a rule has been granted or formally requested, and 
such other matters as the Chair shall direct. The Calendar 
shall be published periodically, but in no case less often than 
once in each session of Congress.
    (2) The staff of the Committee shall furnish each member of 
the Committee with a list of all bills or resolutions (A) 
reported from the Committee but not yet considered by the 
House, and (B) on which a rule has been formally requested but 
not yet granted. The list shall be updated each week when the 
House is in session.
    (3) For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), a rule is 
considered as formally requested when the Chairman of a 
committee which has reported a bill or resolution (or a member 
of such committee authorized to act on the Chairman's behalf):
          (A) has requested, in writing to the Chair, that a 
        hearing be scheduled on a rule for the consideration of 
        the bill or resolution, and
          (B) has supplied the Committee with an adequate 
        number of copies of the bill or resolution, as 
        reported, together with the final printed committee 
        report thereon.

                            OTHER PROCEDURES

    (e) The Chair may establish such other Committee procedures 
and take such actions as may be necessary to carry out these 
rules or to facilitate the effective operation of the Committee 
and its subcommittees in a manner consistent with these rules.

                 Rule 9--Amendments to Committee Rules

    The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended or 
repealed, in the same manner and method as prescribed for the 
adoption of committee rules in clause 2 of rule XI of the Rules 
of the House, but only if written notice of the proposed change 
has been provided to each such Member at least 48 hours before 
the time of the meeting at which the vote on the change occurs. 
Any such change in the rules of the Committee shall be 
published in the Congressional Record within 30 calendar days 
after their approval.

                                  
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