[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 4, Chapters 15 - 17]
[Chapter 17. Committees]
[A. Creating and Organizing Committees]
[Â§ 2. Establishing Standing Committees; Procedure]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 2519-2526]
 
                               CHAPTER 17
 
                               Committees
 
                 A. CREATING AND ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
 
Sec. 2. Establishing Standing Committees; Procedure

Establishing Standing Committee by Resolution

Sec. 2.1 A resolution establishing a standing committee [but not 
    specifically amending the rules of the House] is reported and 
    called up as privileged by the Committee on Rules.

[[Page 2520]]

    On Apr. 13, 1967,(3) the following exchange took place:
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 3. 113 Cong. Rec. 9425, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [William M.] Colmer [of Mississippi]: Mr. Speaker, by 
    direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 418 
    and ask for its immediate consideration.

    The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                  H. Res. 418

            Resolved, That there is hereby established a standing 
        committee of the House of Representatives to be known as the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (hereafter referred 
        to as the ``committee''). The committee shall be composed of 
        twelve Members of the House of Representatives. Six members of 
        the committee shall be members of the majority party and six 
        shall be members of the minority party.
            Sec. 2. The jurisdiction of the committee shall be to 
        recommend as soon as practicable to the House of 
        Representatives such changes in laws, rules, and regulations as 
        the committee deems necessary to establish and enforce 
        standards of official conduct for Members, officers, and 
        employees of the House.
            Sec. 3. The committee may hold such hearings and take such 
        testimony as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
        resolution.

        The Speaker Pro Tempore: (~4) The gentleman from 
    Mississippi is recognized for 1 hour.
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 4. Wilbur D. Mills (Ark.).
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    One week earlier, on Apr. 6, 1967,(5) the Record reveals 
that:
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 5. 113 Cong. Rec. 8622, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. Colmer from the Committee on Rules, filed a privileged 
    report (H. Res. 418, Rept. No. 178) which was referred to the House 
    Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Establishing Standing Committee by Amending House Rules

Sec. 2.2 The establishment of a new standing committee is normally 
    proposed by way of an amendment to the House rules, and such a 
    resolution is reported and called up as privileged.

    On July 29, 1970,(6) the House resolved itself into the 
Committee of the Whole for the further consideration of a bill (H.R. 
17654) amending House rules to improve the operation of the legislative 
branch of the federal government. In the course of the bill's 
consideration, Mr. James C. Cleveland, of New Hampshire, offered an 
amendment (7) which, if adopted and upon enactment of the 
bill into law, would have created a new committee.
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 6. 116 Cong. Rec. 26413, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
 7. Id. at p. 26421.
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    The Clerk read Mr. Cleveland's proposed amendment, as follows:

        Amendment offered by Mr. Cleveland: On page 39, immediately 
    following line 4, insert the following:

[[Page 2521]]

        ``Sec--.(a) Clause 1 of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
    Representatives is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
    following new paragraph:
        `` `(v) Minority Committee on Investigations, to consist of 
    fifteen members as follows: Ten members of the minority party and 
    five members of the majority party.' ''
        ``(b) The rules of the House of Representatives are amended by 
    adding at the end thereof the following new rules:

                                `` `Rule XLV

                  `` `Minority Committee On Investigations

        `` `1. The Minority Committee on Investigations is authorized, 
    acting as a whole or by any subcommittee thereof, to conduct 
    studies and examinations of any activity of any department, agency, 
    wholly owned Government corporation, establishment, or 
    instrumentality of the Government of the United States or the 
    government of the District of Columbia.
        `` `2. The Minority Committee on Investigations is further 
    authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the 
    United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or 
    has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of 
    such witnesses, and the production of such books, papers, 
    documents, or vouchers by subpena or otherwise, and to take such 
    testimony and records as it deems necessary.
        `` `3. Subpena may be issued over the signature of the chairman 
    of the committee or subcommittee, or by any person designated by 
    him, and shall be served by such person or persons as the chairman 
    of the committee or subcommittee may designate.
        `` `4. The chairman of the committee or subcommittee, or any 
    member thereof, may administer oaths to witnesses.' ''

Sec. 2.3 The rules of the House were amended by resolution to provide 
    for the creation of a new standing committee to be known as the 
    Committee on Science and Astronautics.

    On July 21, 1958,(8) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. Richard Bolling, of Missouri, called up House Resolution 580 
and asked for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the 
resolution, as follows:
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 8. 104 Cong. Rec. 14513, 85th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representatives are 
    hereby amended as follows:
        Rule X, clause 1, is hereby amended by inserting after (p) the 
    following:
        ``(q) Committee on Science and Astronautics, to consist of 25 
    members.'' . . .
        Rule XI is further amended by inserting after clause 16 the 
    following:
        ``17. Committee on Science and Astronautics.
        ``(a) Astronautical research and development, including 
    resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
        ``(b) Bureau of Standards, standardization of weights and 
    measures, and the metric system.
        ``(c) National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

[[Page 2522]]

        ``(d) National Science Foundation.
        ``(e) Outer space, including exploration and control thereof.
        ``(f) Science scholarships.
        ``(g) Scientific research and development.''

    Immediately thereafter, Mr. Bolling offered the following 
amendment:

        Amendment offered by Mr. Bolling: On page 2, line 24, strike 
    out line 24 through the remainder of the resolution and in lieu 
    thereof insert the following:
        ``(c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
        ``(d) National Aeronautics and Space Council.
        ``(e) National Science Foundation.
        ``(f) Outer space, including exploration and control thereof.
        ``(g) Science Scholarships.
        ``(h) Scientific research and development,''. . . .

    Mr. Bolling explained (9) that the perfecting amendment 
was offered in order that the language establishing the new committee 
would conform to a bill (H.R. 12575) then on the President's desk which 
was expected to become law and which would establish the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Following further discussion 
(10) in which Mr. Bolling stated that the standing committee 
would continue the work begun by the then-existing Select Committee on 
Astronautics and Space Exploration, Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, put 
the question on the amendment 11 which was agreed to, and on 
the resolution, as amended, which was also agreed to.
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 9. For a direct quote of Mr. Bolling's explanation as well as some 
        further details regarding this measure, see  47.1, infra.
10. See 47.1, infra.
11. 104 Cong. Rec. 14514, 85th Cong. 2d Sess.
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Rules Amendment Changing Committee Name

Sec. 2.4 The House agreed to an amendment to its rules changing the 
    name of the Committee on Public Lands to the Committee on Interior 
    and Insular Affairs.

    On Feb. 2, l951,(12) by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, Mr. John E. Lyle, Jr., of Texas, called up House Resolution 100 
and asked for its immediate consideration.
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12. 97 Cong. Rec. 883, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
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    The resolution, which was adopted shortly 
thereafter,(13) read as follows:
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13. Id. at p. 884.
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        Resolved, That Clause (a) 14 of rule X of the Rules of the 
    House of Representatives (14) is amended by striking
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14. This clause identified the Committee on Public Lands as being one 
        of the standing committees of the House and specified the 
        number of members thereon. H. Jour. 1288, 81st Cong. 2d Sess. 
        (1950).
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[[Page 2523]]

    out ``Committee on Public Lands'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
    ``Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.''

        Clause (1) (n) of rule XI (15) is amended by 
    striking out ``Committee on Public Lands'' and inserting in lieu 
    thereof ``Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.''
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15. This clause prescribed the jurisdiction of the Committee on Public 
        Lands. H. Jour. 1290, 81st Cong. 2d Sess. (1950).
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        Clause (2)(a) of rule XI(16) is amended by striking 
    out ``Committee on Public Lands'' where it appears in the said 
    clause and inserting in lieu thereof Committee on Interior and 
    Insular Affairs.''
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16. This clause specified those subjects as to which the committee had 
        leave to report at any time. H. Jour. 1291, 81st Cong. 2d Sess. 
        (1950).
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        Clause 1 of rule XII (1) is amended by striking out 
    ``Public Lands'' where it appears in said clause and inserting in 
    lieu thereof ``Interior and Insular Affairs.''
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 1. This clause specified that the [then] Delegate from Hawaii, the 
        Resident Commissioner to the United States from Puerto Rico, 
        and the [then] Delegate from Alaska would be elected to serve 
        as additional members on the committee and would be accorded 
        the same powers and privileges in the committee as they would 
        possess in the House, and be permitted to make any motion 
        except the motion to reconsider. H. Jour. 1291, 81st Cong. 2d 
        Sess. (1950).
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Transfer of Membership and Documents From One Committee to Another

Sec. 2.5 The House agreed to a resolution providing that those Members 
    elected to the Committee on Public Lands were ``hereby elected'' to 
    the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, and transfer. ring 
    all records, papers, bills, resolutions, communications, documents, 
    petitions, and memorials heretofore referred to the Committee on 
    Public Lands to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.

    On Feb. 2, 1951,(2) immediately after the adoption of a 
resolution changing the name of the Committee on Public Lands to the 
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Mr. John R. Murdock, of 
Arizona, offered the following resolution (H. Res. 111) to implement 
the resolution just adopted (H. Res. 100) and asked for its immediate 
consideration:
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 2. 97 Cong. Rec. 884, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Resolved, That those Members of the House elected to the 
    Committee on Public Lands are hereby elected to the

[[Page 2524]]

    Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and all records and 
    papers of the Committee on Public Lands are hereby transferred to 
    the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
        That all bills, resolutions, communications, papers, documents, 
    petitions, and memorials heretofore referred to the Committee on 
    Public Lands are hereby referred to the Committee on Interior and 
    Insular Affairs.

    The resolution was agreed to.

Abolition of One Committee and Replacement With Another

Sec. 2.6 The House agreed to an amendment to its rules abolishing the 
    Committee on Un-American Activities and transferring its 
    jurisdiction,(3) records, and property to a new standing 
    committee to be known as the Committee on Internal Security.
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 3.T1 There were differences of opinion on the floor as to whether the 
        jurisdiction of the Committee on Un-American Activities had 
        been merely transferred. The process by which the latter 
        committee was abolished and the Committee on Internal Security 
        was created did not involve a simple renaming. Discussion 
        ensued as to whether the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
        Internal Security amounted to a major expansion of the 
        jurisdiction of the Committee on Un-American Activities. See  
        29.8, infra.
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    On Feb. 18, 1969,(4) William M. Colmer, of Mississippi, 
Chairman of the Committee on Rules, called up House Resolution 89 and 
asked for its immediate consideration. The resolution called for the 
amending of Rules X and XI to abolish the Committee on Un-American 
Activities and to create in its place a new standing committee of the 
House to be known as the Committee on Internal Security.
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 4. 115 Cong. Rec. 3723, 3724, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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    The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                   H. Res. 89

            Resolved, That rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives is amended--
            (1) by striking out clause 19;
            (2) by renumbering clauses 11 through 18 as clauses 12 
        through 19, respectively; and
            (3) by inserting immediately after clause 10 the following 
        new clause:
            ``1. Committee on Internal Security.
            ``(a) Communist and other subversive activities affecting 
        the internal security of the United States.
            ``(b) The Committee on Internal Security, acting as a whole 
        or by subcommittee, is authorized to make investigations from 
        time to time of (1) the extent, character, objectives, and 
        activities within the United States of organizations or groups, 
        whether of foreign or domestic origin, their members, agents, 
        and af

[[Page 2525]]

        filiates, which seek to establish, or assist in the 
        establishment of, a totalitarian dictatorship within the United 
        States, or to overthrow or alter, or assist in the overthrow or 
        alteration of, the form of government of the United States or 
        of any State thereof, by force, violence, treachery, espionage, 
        sabotage, insurrection, or any unlawful means, (2) the extent, 
        character, objectives, and activities within the United States 
        of organizations or groups, their members, agents, and 
        affiliates, which incite or employ acts of force, violence, 
        terrorism, or any unlawful means, to obstruct or oppose the 
        lawful authority of the Government of the United States in the 
        execution of any law or policy affecting the internal security 
        of the United States, and (3) all other questions, including 
        the administration and execution of any law of the United 
        States, or any portion of law, relating to the foregoing that 
        would aid the Congress or any committee of the House in any 
        necessary remedial legislation.
            ``The Committee on Internal Security shall report to the 
        House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in 
        session) the results of any such investigation, together with 
        such recommendations as it deems advisable.
            ``For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee 
        on Internal Security, or any subcommittee thereof, is 
        authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the 
        United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, 
        or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, and to require, by 
        subpena 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. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the 
        chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member 
        designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any 
        person designated by any such chairman or member.''
            Sec. 2. (a) Rule X of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives is amended--
            (1) by striking out clause 1(s);
            (2) by redesignating clauses 1(k) through 1(r) as clauses 
        1(l) through 1(s), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting immediately after clause 1(j) the 
        following:
            ``(k) Committee on Internal Security, to consist of nine 
        Members.''
            (b) Clause 31 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives is amended by striking out ``Un-American 
        Activities'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Internal 
        Security''.
            Sec. 3. As of the date of adoption of this resolution, all 
        property (including records) of the Committee on Un-American 
        Activities is hereby transferred to the Committee on Internal 
        Security and shall be available for use by the latter committee 
        to the same extent as if such property (including records) was 
        originally that of the Committee on Internal Security.
            Sec. 4. Nothing in this resolution shall affect (1) the 
        validity of any action or proceeding of the Committee on Un-
        American Activities or of the House of Representatives before 
        the date of adoption of this resolution, or (2) the validity of 
        any action or proceeding by any officer or agency of the 
        executive branch of the Government, or by any court of 
        competent jurisdiction, based on any action or proceeding 
        referred to in clause (1) of this sentence. Any action or 
        proceeding referred to in clause (2) of the preceding sentence 
        and pending on the date of adoption of this resolution shall be 
        continued by the officer, agency, or court concerned in the 
        same manner and to the same extent as if this resolution had 
        not been adopted.

[[Page 2526]]

    Following extended debate, the resolution was ultimately agreed 
to,(5) and the rules were amended, accordingly.
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 5. Id. at p. 3746.
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