[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

 Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, in accordance with rule XXVI, 
section 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby submit for 
publication in the Congressional Record, the Rules of the Committee on 
the Judiciary.
  The Rules follow:

                       Committee on the Judiciary


                      i. meetings of the committee

       1. Meetings may be called by the Chairman as he may deem 
     necessary on three days notice or in the alternative with the 
     consent of the Ranking Minority Member or pursuant to the 
     provision of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended.
       2. Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or 
     any Subcommittee shall file with the Committee, at least 48 
     hours in advance of the hearing, a written statement of his 
     testimony in as many copies as the Chairman of the Committee 
     or Subcommittee prescribes.
       3. On the request of any Member, a nomination or bill on 
     the agenda of the Committee will be held over until the next 
     meeting of the Committee or for one week, whichever occurs 
     later.


                              ii. quorums

       1. Ten Members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee 
     when reporting a bill or nomination; provided that proxies 
     shall not be counted in making a quorum.
       2. For the purpose of taking sworn testimony, a quorum of 
     the Committee and each Subcommittee thereof, now or hereafter 
     appointed, shall consist of one Senator.


                              iii. proxies

       When a record vote is taken in the Committee on any bill, 
     resolution, amendment, or any other question, a quorum being 
     present, a Member who is unable to attend the meeting may 
     submit his vote by proxy, in writing or by telephone, or 
     through personal instructions. A proxy must be specific with 
     respect to the matters it addresses.


                    iv. bringing a matter to a vote

       The Chairman shall entertain a non-debatable motion to 
     bring a matter before the Committee to a vote. If there is 
     objection to bring the matter to a vote without further 
     debate, a rollcall vote of the Committee shall be taken, and 
     debate shall be terminated if the motion to bring the matter 
     to a vote without further debate passes with ten votes in the 
     affirmative, one of which must be cast by the minority.


                            v. subcommittees

       1. Any Member of the Committee may sit with any 
     Subcommittee during its hearings or any other meeting, but 
     shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the 
     Subcommittee unless he is a Member of such Subcommittee.
       2. Subcommittees shall be considered de novo whenever there 
     is a change in the Subcommittee chairmanship and seniority on 
     the particular Subcommittee shall not necessarily apply.
       3. Except for matters retained at the full Committee, 
     matters shall be referred to the appropriate Subcommittee or 
     Subcommittees by the chairman, except as agreed by a majority 
     vote of the Committee or by the agreement of the Chairman and 
     the Ranking Minority Member.


                          vi. attendance rules

       1. Official attendance at all Committee markups and 
     executive sessions of the Committee shall be kept by the 
     Committee Clerk. Official attendance at all Subcommittee 
     markups and executive sessions shall be kept by the 
     Subcommittee Clerk.
       2. Official attendance at all hearings shall be kept, 
     provided that Senators are notified by the Committee Chairman 
     and ranking Member, in the case of Committee hearings, and by 
     the Subcommittee Chairman and ranking Member, in the case of 
     Subcommittee hearings, 48 hours in advance of the hearing 
     that attendance will be taken; otherwise, no attendance will 
     be taken. Attendance at all hearings is encouraged.

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