[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 5, Chapters 18 - 20]
[Chapter 19. The Committee of the Whole]
[B. The Chairman]
[Â§ 5. Speaker's Appointment of Chairman]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


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                               CHAPTER 19
 
                       The Committee of the Whole
 
                            B. THE CHAIRMAN
 
Sec. 5. Speaker's Appointment of Chairman


    When the early rules of the House were first drafted, the Chairman 
of the Committee of the Whole was elected by the House following the 
custom of the British Parliament. A 1794 modification altered the 
method of selection from election by the Members to appointment by the 
Speaker.(2)

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Rule XXIII clause 1 mandates the Speaker ``in all cases'' to leave the 
Chair after appointing a Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. This 
requirement is rooted in the history of the British House of Commons 
and the original purpose of the Committee of the Whole. The Speaker of 
the House of Commons during the reign of the Stuarts was a partisan of 
the King who reported proceedings to him. To preserve their 
confidences, Members of the House of Commons formed the Committee of 
the Whole and elected one of their colleagues to preside over debates 
on financial matters. The Speaker was not permitted in the Hall of the 
House of Commons during these meetings.(3)
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 2. Rule XXIII clause 1, House Rules and Manual Sec. 861 (1979); 
        Jefferson's Manual, House Rules and Manual Sec. 328 (1979); and 
        4 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 4704.
 3. See 99 Cong. Rec. 1897, 1898, 83d Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 12, 1953, 
        for a statement by Representative Clarence Cannon, and Reed, 
        Thomas B., Reed's Rules, A Manual of General Parliamentary Law, 
        Rand, McNally & Co., 1894, p. 67, for discussions of the origin 
        of the Committee of the 
        Whole.                          -------------------
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In General

Sec. 5.1 Parliamentarian's Note: The Chairman of the Committee of the 
    Whole is appointed by the Speaker. The Chairman decides questions 
    of order arising in the Committee independently of the Speaker. He 
    recognizes for debate, but like the Speaker is forbidden to 
    recognize for requests to suspend the rule of admission to the 
    floor.

    Rule XXIII clause 1 provides that ``In all cases, in forming a 
Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker shall leave his chair after 
appointing a Chairman to preside, who shall, in case of disturbance or 
disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobby, have power to cause the 
same to be cleared.'' (4)
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 4. House Rules and Manual Sec. 861 (1979).
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    As to admission to the floor, Rule XXXII clause 1 provides: ``The 
persons hereinafter named, and none other, shall be admitted to the 
Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto . . . and it shall not be in 
order for the Speaker to entertain a request for the suspension of this 
rule. . . .'' (5) The rule also applies to the Chairman of 
the Committee of the Whole (see 5 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 7285).
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 5. House Rules and Manual Sec. 919 (1979).
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Chairman Pro Tempore

Sec. 5.2 Where the Member named by the Speaker to act

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    as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole is not present at the 
    time the House resolves into Committee, the Speaker may ask another 
    Member to assume the chair as Chairman pro tempore pending the 
    arrival of the Chairman.

    On Oct. 18, 1967,(6) Speaker pro tempore Carl Albert, of 
Oklahoma, designated one Member, Charles A. Vanik, of Ohio, as Chairman 
of the Committee of the Whole and, because Mr. Vanik was not present 
when the House resolved into Committee, appointed another, Member, 
Daniel D. Rostenkowski, of Illinois, to assume the Chair temporarily.
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 6. 113 Cong. Rec. 29277, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [George H.] Mahon [of Texas]: Mr. Speaker, I move that the 
    House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the 
    State of the Union for the consideration of the joint resolution 
    (H.J. Res. 888), making continuing appropriations for the fiscal 
    year 1968, and for other purposes.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The question is on the motion offered 
    by the gentleman from Texas.
        The motion was agreed to.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The Chair designates the gentleman 
    from Ohio [Mr. Vanik], as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, 
    and requests the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Rostenkowski] to 
    assume the chair temporarily.
        Accordingly the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
    Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
    joint resolution (H.J. Res. 888), with Mr. Rostenkowski in the 
    chair.

Use of Term ``Madam Chairman''

Sec. 5.3 A female Member who is appointed Chairman of the Committee of 
    the Whole should be addressed as ``Madam Chairman.''

    On Sept. 20, 1973,(7) during consideration of H.R. 9281, 
relating to retirement benefits of law enforcement and fire-fighter 
personnel, Mrs. Martha W. Griffiths, of Michigan, stated the form of 
address of a female Chairman of the Committee of the Whole.
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 7. 119 Cong. Rec. 30589, 30592, 30594, 93d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [H.R.] Gross [of Iowa]: Madam Chairperson, I yield myself 
    such time as I may consume.
        Madam Chairman, I was interested to hear the gentleman speak of 
    the special benefits given to municipal employees of the city of 
    New York. . . .
        The Chairman: For the benefit of Members, the Chair would like 
    to announce that the Chair is properly addressed as Madam Chairman. 
    While she seems to be neutral, she is not neuter.

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