[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9987-H9989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PUBLICATION OF THE RULES OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS ON THE 
                                LIBRARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 of rule 11 of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, I hereby submit the Rules of Procedure 
of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library for printing in the 
Congressional Record.

[[Page H9988]]

  RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS ON THE LIBRARY

                      [One Hundred Fifth Congress]

                               Rule No. 1


                           general provisions

       (a) The Rules of the House are the rules of the Joint 
     Committee on the Library so far as applicable, except that a 
     motion to recess from day to day is a motion of high 
     privilege in committees.
       (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 XI, clause 5) 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 distribute such information by electronic 
     means. 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's rules shall be published in the 
     Congressional Record as soon as possible following the 
     committee's organizational meeting in each odd numbered year.

                               Rule No. 2


                      regular and special meetings

       (a) The regular meeting date of the Joint Committee on the 
     Library 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 chairman as 
     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 chairman 
     subject to clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. A regularly 
     scheduled meeting need not be held if there is no business to 
     be considered.
       (b) If the chairman of the committee is not present at any 
     meeting of the committee, or at the discretion of the 
     chairman, the vice chairman of the committee shall preside at 
     the meeting. If the chairman and vice chairman 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 of the committee, shall be 
     open to the public except when the committee, in open session 
     and with a quorum present, determines by roll call 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, 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 member of the committee, and such 
     congressional staff and such departmental representatives as 
     they may authorize, shall be present in any business session 
     which has been closed to the public.

                               Rule No. 4


                         records and roll calls

       (a) The result of each roll call vote in any meeting of the 
     committee shall be transmitted for publication in the 
     Congressional Record as soon as possible, but in no case 
     later than two legislative days following such roll call 
     vote, and 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) All committee hearings, records, data, charts, and 
     files shall be kept separate and distinct from the 
     congressional office records of the member serving as 
     chairman of the committee; and such records shall be the 
     property of Congress and all members of Congress shall have 
     access thereto.
       (c) House records of the committee which are at the 
     National Archives shall be made available pursuant to House 
     Rule XXXVI. The chairman of the committee shall notify the 
     ranking minority party 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.
       (d) 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 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, and 
     documents; as it deems necessary. The chairman of the 
     committee, or any member designated by the chairman, may 
     administer oaths of any witness.
       (b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the 
     committee 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 chairman of the committee 
     pursuant to such rules and under such limitations as the 
     committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed 
     by the chairman of the committee or by any member designated 
     by the committee.
       (2) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the committee 
     may be enforced only as authorized or directed by the House

                               Rule No. 7


                                quorums

       For the purposes of taking any action other than issuing a 
     subpoena, closing meetings, promulgating committee orders, or 
     changing the rules of the committee, the quorum shall be one-
     third of the members of the committee. For purposes of taking 
     testimony and receiving evidence, two members shall 
     constitute a quorum.

                               Rule No. 8


                               amendments

       Any amendment offered to any pending matter before the 
     committee 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 chairman, with the concurrence of the vice 
     chairman, in the case of hearings to be conducted by the 
     committee, shall make public announcement of the date, place, 
     and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any 
     measure or matter 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 chairman, each witness who is to 
     appear before the committee 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 chairman 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) Committee members may question a witness only when they 
     have been recognized by the chairman for that purpose, and 
     only for a 5-minute period until all members present have had 
     an opportunity to question the 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 hearings shall be initiated by the chairman, 
     followed by the ranking minority party member and all other 
     members alternating between the majority and minority. In 
     recognizing members to question witnesses in this fashion, 
     the chairman 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 chairman may 
     accomplish this by recognizing two majority members for each 
     minority member recognized.
       (e) The following additional rules shall apply to hearings:
       (1) The chairman 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.
       (3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own 
     counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their 
     constitutional rights.
       (4) The chairman 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 chairman 
     shall receive and the committee shall dispose of requests to 
     subpoena additional witnesses.

[[Page H9989]]

       (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


            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 3 of House Rule XI, subject to the 
     limitations therein.

                              Rule No. 11


                      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 
     chairman. Travel may be authorized by the chairman for any 
     member and any staff member in connection with the attendance 
     of 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 chairman 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;
       (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 jurisdiction of the committee, prior 
     authorization must be obtained from the chairman. Before such 
     authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the 
     chairman, 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 chairman 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 Oversight pertaining to such 
     travel.

                              Rule No. 12


             powers and duties of subunits of the committee

       The chairman of the committee is authorized to establish 
     appropriately named subunits, such as task forces, composed 
     of members of the committee, for any purpose, measure or 
     matter; one member of each such subunit shall be designated 
     chairman of the subunit by the chairman of the committee. All 
     such subunits shall be considered ad hoc subcommittees of the 
     committee. The rules of the committee shall be the rules of 
     any subunit of the committee, so far as applicable, or as 
     otherwise directed by the chairman of the committee. Each 
     subunit of the committee is authorized to meet, hold 
     hearings, receive evidence, and to require, by subpoena or 
     otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and 
     the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
     memorandums, papers, and documents, as it deems necessary, 
     and to report to the full committee on all measures or 
     matters for which it was created. Chairman of subunits of the 
     committee shall set meeting dates with the approval of the 
     chairman of the full committee, with a view toward avoiding 
     simultaneous scheduling of committee and subunit meetings or 
     hearings wherever possible. It shall be the practice of the 
     committee that meetings of subunits not be scheduled to occur 
     simultaneously with meetings of the full committee. In order 
     to ensure orderly and fair assignment of hearing and meeting 
     rooms, hearings and meetings should be arranged in advance 
     with the chairman through the clerk of the committee.

                              Rule No. 13


                    other procedures and regulations

       The chairman of the full committee 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. 14


                 designation of clerk of the committee

       For the purposes of these rules and the Rules of the House 
     of Representatives, the chairman designated staff person, of 
     the committee shall act as the clerk of the committee.

                          ____________________