[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 110th Congress] [110th Congress] [House Document 109-157] [Rules of the House of Representatives] [Pages 540-600] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov] Rule XI In general procedures of committees and unfinished business
787. Committee procedure. | 1. (a)(1)(A) The Rules of the House are the rules of its committees and subcommittees so far as applicable. |
Sec. 788. Investigative authority. | (b)(1) Each committee may conduct at any time such investigations and studies as it considers necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under rule X. Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as required by clause 6 of rule X, each committee may incur expenses, including travel expenses, in connection with such investigations and studies. |
Sec. 789. Printing and binding. | (c) Each committee may have printed and bound such testimony and other data as may be presented at hearings held by the committee or its subcommittees. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in connection with a meeting or hearing of a committee shall be paid from the applicable accounts of the House described in clause 1(j)(1) of rule X. |
Sec. 790. Activity reports. | (d)(1) Each committee shall submit to the House not later than January 2 of each odd-numbered year a report on the activities of that committee under this rule and rule X during the Congress ending at noon on January 3 of such year. |
791. Committee rules. | 2. (a)(1) Each standing committee shall adopt written rules governing its procedure. Such rules-- |
Sec. 792. Committee procedure generally. | Failure to follow certain procedural requirements imposed on committees by this rule may invalidate committee actions. Violation of the requirements as to open meetings and hearings and other hearing irregularities improperly overruled (see clause 2(g)(5) of rule XI) or the prescribed committee procedures for reporting bills and resolutions (clause 2(h) of rule XI) may in some |
793. Committee meetings. | (b) Each standing committee shall establish regular meeting days for the conduct of its business, which shall be not less frequent than monthly. Each such committee shall meet for the consideration of a bill or resolution pending before the committee or the transaction of other committee business on all regular meeting days fixed by the committee unless otherwise provided by written rule adopted by the committee. Additional and special meetings |
794. Required records. | (e)(1)(A) Each committee shall keep a complete record of all committee action which shall include-- |
Sec. 795. Public availability. | (B)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (B)(ii) and subject to paragraph (k)(7), the result of each such record vote shall be made available by the committee for inspection by the public at reasonable times in its offices. Information so available for public inspection shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order, or other proposition, the name of each member voting for and each member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or proposition, and the names of those members of the committee present but not voting. |
Sec. 796. Committee files. | (2)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (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 its chairman. Such records shall be the property of the House, and each Member, Delegate, and the Resident Commissioner shall have access thereto. |
797. Ban on proxies. | (f) A vote by a member of a committee or subcommittee with respect to any measure or matter may not be cast by proxy. |
798. Open meetings and hearings. | (g)(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, by a standing committee or subcommittee thereof (other than the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or its subcommittees) shall be open to the public, including to radio, television, and still photography coverage, except when the committee or sub |
799. Requirement of quorum. | (h)(1) A measure or recommendation may not be reported by a committee unless a majority of the committee is actually present. |
Sec. 800. Reduced quorum. | (2) Each committee may fix the number of its members to constitute a quorum for taking testimony and receiving evidence, which may not be less than two. |
Sec. 800a. Postponing votes in committee. | (4)(A) Each committee may adopt a rule authorizing the chairman of a committee or subcommittee-- |
801. Committees not to sit. | (i) A committee may not sit during a joint session of the House and Senate or during a recess when a joint meeting of the House and Senate is in progress. |
802. Witnesses. | (j)(1) Whenever a hearing is conducted by a committee on a measure or matter, the minority members of the committee shall be entitled, upon request to the chairman by a majority of them before the completion of the hearing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon. |
803. Hearing procedure. | (k)(1) The chairman at a hearing shall announce in an opening statement the subject of the hearing. |
804. Minority views. | (l) If at the time of approval of a measure or matter by a committee (other than the Committee on Rules) a member of the committee gives notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, or additional views for inclusion in the report to the House thereon, that member shall be entitled to not less than two additional calendar days after the day of such notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in session on such a day) to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, with the clerk of the committee. |
805. Power to sit and to issue subpoenas; oaths. | (m)(1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions and duties under this rule and rule X (including any matters referred to it under clause 2 of rule XII), a committee or subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph (3)(A))-- |
806. Standards of Official Conduct; additional duties. | 3. (a) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has the following functions: |
806a. Standards of Official Conduct; committee rules. | (f) The committee shall adopt rules providing that the chairman shall establish the agenda for meetings of the committee, but shall not preclude the ranking minority member from placing any item on the agenda. Committee staff |
807. Coverage of committee proceedings. | 4. (a) The purpose of this clause is to provide a means, in conformity with acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, and decorum, by which committee hearings or committee meetings that are open to the public may be covered by audio and visual means-- |
Sec. 808. Media coverage. | (c) It is, further, the intent of this clause that the general conduct of each meeting (whether of a hearing or otherwise) covered under authority of this clause by audio or visual means, and the personal behavior of the committee members and staff, other Government officials and personnel, witnesses, television, radio, and press media personnel, and the general public at the hearing or other meeting, shall be in strict conformity with and observance of the acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum traditionally observed by the House in its operations, and may not be such as to-- |
Sec. 809. When permitted. | (e) Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by a committee or subcommittee is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by audio and visual means. A committee or subcommittee chairman may not limit the number of television or still cameras to fewer than two representatives from each medium (except for legitimate space or safety considerations, in which case pool coverage shall be authorized). |
Sec. 810. Committee rules. | (f) Each committee shall adopt written rules to govern its implementation of this clause. Such rules shall contain provisions to the following effect: |
Sec. 811. Press photographers. | (8) Photographers may not position themselves between the witness table and the members of the committee at any time during the course of a hearing or meeting. |
Sec. 812. Accreditation. | (11) Personnel providing coverage by still photography shall be currently accredited to the Press Photographers' Gallery. |
813. Fees of witnesses before the House or committees. | 5. Witnesses appearing before the House or any of its committees shall be paid the same per diem rate as established, authorized, and regulated by the Committee on House Administration for Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and employees of the House, plus actual expenses of travel to or from the place of examination. Such per diem may not be paid when a witness has been summoned at the place of examination. |
814. Resumption of business of a preceding session. | 6. All business of the House at the end of one session shall be resumed at the commencement of the next session of the same Congress in the same manner as if no adjournment had taken place. |