[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 3.  Party Organization]
[C. Party Committees and Informal Groups]
[Â§ 12. Republican Policy Committee; Research Committee]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 194-197]
 
                               CHAPTER 3
 
                           Party Organization
 
                C. PARTY COMMITTEES AND INFORMAL GROUPS
 
Sec. 12. Republican Policy Committee; Research Committee

    The Republican Policy Committee studies proposed legislation, takes 
positions on matters of policy, considers legislative 
strategy,(8) and serves the Republican Conference and 
leadership in an advisory capacity. The Policy Committee was formerly 
known as the Steering Committee until it was renamed in 
1949.(9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 8. For discussion of a Democratic committee with similar functions see 
        Sec. 13, infra.
 9. See Congressional Quarterly's Guide to the Congress of the United 
        States, Congressional Quarterly Service (Washington, D. C., 
        1971) , p. 142.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Policy Committee may consist of Republican Members serving on 
legislative committees responsible for legislation under study by the 
Policy Committee.
    An announcement of the selection of the Chairman of the Policy 
Committee has frequently been made in the House.(10) By 
virtue of his status as a party leader, the Chairman of the Policy 
Committee

[[Page 195]]

has on occasion assumed the functions of the floor leader, particularly 
during formal affairs such as the extension of certain courtesies and 
the fulfillment of ceremonial duties.(11)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. See Sec. 12. 1, infra.
11. See Sec. Sec. 12.2, 12.3, infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee on Research, through the use of task forces, does 
research in areas relating to particular issues, and presents reports 
and recommendations to the Republican 
Conference.                          -------------------

Announcement as to Chairmen

Sec. 12.1 The conference chairman has on occasion announced in the 
    House the names of the persons selected by the conference as 
    Chairmen of the Policy Committee and the Committee on Research.

    In the 90th Congress, following the announcement of the selection 
of the minority whip, the Chairman of the Republican Conference 
announced as follows:(12)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. 113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st Sess. Jan. 10. 1967.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. [Melvin R.] Laird [of Wisconsin]: . . . The conference has 
    also directed me to notify the House officially that the Republican 
    Members have selected as Chairman of the Republican Committee on 
    Policy the gentleman from Arizona, the Honorable John J. Rhodes, 
    and has chosen as Chairman of the Republican Committee on Research 
    and Planning the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Charles E. 
    Goodell.

    In the 89th Congress, the conference chairman, immediately after 
announcing his party's selection of a Minority Leader, announced the 
election by the conference of a Chairman of the Republican Policy 
Committee.(13) Similarly, in the 88th Congress, an 
announcement was made respecting the selection of the minority whip and 
the Chairman of the Policy Committee.(14)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. 111 Cong. Rec. 20, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 1965.
14. 109 Cong. Rec. 506, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 17, 1963.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duties of Chairman

Sec. 12.2 The Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, in the stead 
    of the Minority Leader, was appointed to the committee to notify 
    the President of the intention of the House to adjourn.

    In the 91st Congress, the Majority Leader and the acting Minority 
Leader, the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, were appointed 
to the committee to notify the President of the intention of the House 
to adjourn.

[[Page 196]]

The proceedings were as follows:(15)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. 116 Cong. Rec. 44599, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 2, 1971.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. [Carl] Albert [of Oklahoma]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution (H. Res. 1338) and ask for its immediate consideration.
        [The Clerk read the resolution, which authorized the 
    appointment of a committee to join with a similar committee of the 
    Senate and inform the President of the readiness of Congress to 
    adjourn. The resolution was agreed to.]
        The Speaker:(16) The Chair appoints as Members on 
    the part of the House of the committee to notify the President the 
    gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Albert, and the gentleman from 
    Arizona, Mr. Rhodes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 12.3 Acting in the stead of the Minority Leader, the Chairman of 
    the Republican Policy Committee offered a resolution expressing the 
    praise of the House for the manner in which the Speaker had 
    performed his duties.

    In the 91st Congress, the Chairman of the Republican Policy 
Committee, John J. Rhodes, of Arizona, acting in the stead of the 
Minority Leader, offered a resolution thanking Speaker John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, for the exemplary manner in which the 
Speaker had performed his duties. The proceedings were as 
follows:(17)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. 116 Cong. Rec. 44600, 44601, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 2, 1971.
            Parliamentarian's Note: Mr. Gerald R. Ford (Mich.) the 
        Minority Leader and Mr. Leslie C. Arends (Ill.), the minority 
        whip, had left the city and had requested Mr. Rhodes and Mr. 
        Richard H. Poff (Va.) to act in their stead with respect to the 
        proceedings described above.
            In the 90th Congress, a similar resolution was offered by 
        the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, who was acting 
        for the Minority Leader. 114 Cong. Rec. 31371, 90th Cong. 2d 
        Sess., Oct. 14 1968.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The Speaker. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Poff) will take 
    the Chair.
        Mr. Poff assumed the Chair.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore (Mr. Poff). The Chair recognizes the 
    gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Rhodes).
        Mr. Rhodes of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged 
    resolution (H. Res. 1340) and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution as follows:

                                  H. Res. 1340

            Resolved, That the thanks of the House are presented to the 
        Honorable John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, for the able, impartial, and dignified manner 
        in which he has presided over the deliberations and performed 
        the arduous duties of the Chair during the present term of 
        Congress; and be it further
            Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby extends 
        to its be

[[Page 197]]

        loved Speaker, the Honorable John W. McCormack, sincere wishes 
        for a long, pleasant, and well-earned retirement.

        The Speaker Pro Tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman 
    from Arizona.
        Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Speaker, it is a proud duty which I perform in 
    offering this resolution in appreciation to our great Speaker, the 
    Honorable John McCormack of Massachusetts.

[Mr. Rhodes continued his remarks, sharing his personal memories of the 
Speaker and expressing appreciation of the Speaker's record of 
service.]