ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES

Committees do the preliminary work for the House. They consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair, and group of members equal to �20% of the total number of eligible Representatives responding to the most recent Primary Roll Call.�


A. Types of Committees

1) Committee of the Whole

The House may, upon a successful motion, choose to consider business as a Committee of the Whole, in which case the Speaker (or his/her designee) shall serve as Chair and all members of the House shall be committee members.

2) Standing Legislative Committees

Standing Committees are in session at all times the House is in session, and perform both legislative and investigative duties. A list of the standing legislative Committees is found in Article V, Section I of AGS Rules.

3) Committee on Rules and Ethics

Rules and Ethics is a standing committee that deals with amendments to and interpretations of AGS Rules, and investigates alleged ethical and Rules violations.

4) Temporary Legislative Committees

Temporary committees are formed with a specific legislative or investigative purpose in mind. Article V, Section 4 of AGS Rules outlines the process of establishing a temporary legislative Committee.

5) Temporary Subcommittees

Standing committees (but not Committees of the Whole) may, with a 2/3rds vote, establish a temporary subcommittee. Subcommittees report to the parent committee, never to the full House.


B. Membership and Duties


1) Chairs

Chairs preside over the business of the Committee and are responsible for enforcing Rules and decorum during Committee business. Chairs of Standing Committees are appointed by the Majority and Minority Leaders and confirmed by the House through an Organizing Resolution.

2) Vice Chairs

Vice Chairs shall be appointed by the Committee Chair. It is the duty of the chairman to call the committee together, but, if he is absent, or neglects or declines to call a meeting of the committee, it is the duty of the vice-chairman to call the committee to order. In case of resignation or removal, the Vice Chair shall serve as Acting Chair until a new Chair is appointed by the appropriate Floor Leader.

3) Committee Members

Members shall be chosen by the Floor Leaders. When a member is appointed to a committee seat, she/he must report said appointment to the committee chair before assuming the powers and duties of a committee member.


C. Business

Bills referred back to committee by the full House shall be considered first, and hearings may not take place before bills. In all other circumstances, the Chair has discretion as to what business shall be considered, unless the Committee on a question shall decide to take up a particular object.

1) Bills. The consideration of bills is the chief business of most House committees. Consideration shall always consist of a hearing, followed by a debate and then a vote.

a) Hearings

Hearings are for investigative and informational purposes. Members may not make motions during a hearing, except to move to end a hearing or to request testimony.

The lead sponsor of a bill shall always be invited to testify, though he/she is not required to do so. The Chair may request additional testimony from other appropriate persons, as may members, with the approval of the Chair. Only one witness may testify at a time before the Committee, however.

All Committee members are free to ask questions of a witness, but the Chair may instruct the witness not to answer if the propriety of the question is objected to.

B) Debates

Only committee members may speak during debate. Unlike debate in the full House, committee members may speak more than once on the same topic without restriction. The presiding officer should be addressed as �Mr. Chair� or �Madame Chair.� All other rules of decorum and procedure for debate in the full House shall apply in committee.

c) Votes

Except as noted in AGS Rules, a majority is required for an amendment to pass, or for a bill to pass committee. Unlike in the full House, committee members who are Senators shall only have one vote in Committee, but all other rules of decorum and procedure for votes in the full House shall apply in committee.


2. Investigations

Committees may hold investigations, to study a topic in preparation for future legislative action. Investigations shall always begin with hearings, followed by debate and a vote. A report is then sent to the full House for further consideration.

a) Hearings, Debate and Votes

Hearings, debate and votes shall be conducted as outlined in C(1) above.

B) Reports

The report agreed to by a majority of the committee is the report of the committee, and should not be referred to as the majority report. A minority may, if it chooses, issue a minority report, which should be forwarded for consideration along with the committee report.