Article V: Committees

Section 1. Standing Legislative Committees

The House recognizes the following standing legislative committees:

Committee on Agriculture, Energy and Environment
Committee on Appropriations and Finance
Committee on Commerce and Small Business
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Committee on Government Reform
Committee on International Relations and Armed Services
Committee on the Judiciary

Section 2. Apportionment

a. The total membership of each committee shall be 10% of the total number of eligible Representatives responding to the most recent Primary Roll Call.
b. The Majority and Minority will each receive a proportion of the total seats on each committee equal to the proportion of members in each coalition.
c. The House Majority shall chair all standing legislative committees, unless agreed otherwise in the organizing resolution.

Section 3. Committee on Rules and Ethics

a. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall consist of two members of each recognized party (including the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus) and three members of the AB.
b. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall hear all rules amendments and may pass them with a 2/3rds majority.
c. The Committee on Rules and Ethics may, upon request, interpret rules and issue edicts of interpretation by a simple majority.
d. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall hear and investigate legitimate claims of wrongdoing and misuse of office.
e. The Committee on Rules and Ethics may, by a 2/3rds majority, suggest a punishment for consideration to the full House.

Section 4. Temporary Legislative Committees

a. The House may, by majority acclamation, establish temporary committees to research, debate and vote upon specific issues or pieces of legislation.
b. The membership of temporary committees shall be apportioned in the same manner as that of standing legislative committees.
c. If the committee chair is not appointed in the authorization of the temporary committee, the Majority Leader shall appoint the chair.
d. A temporary committee shall disband once its mandate has been fulfilled.

Section 5. Committee Chairs

a. Chairs of Standing Legislative Committees are appointed by the Majority Leader. The Chair of the Committee on Rules and Ethics shall rotate on a monthly basis among the recognized political parties and the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus, in reverse alphabetical order. The chair shall rotate on the first of each month.
b. Each Committee Chair shall preside over their respective Committees, control and monitor debate and voting schedules, and report bills to the Clerk.
c. Each Chair shall notify the sponsors of legislation (via Majority or Minority offices or Party headquarters) concurrent to when such legislation comes up for debate.
d. Each Chair shall appoint a Vice Chair, who shall preside in the absence of the chair.
e. Each Chair shall set and enforce rules of decorum for the committee.
f. Each Chair shall enforce the AGS Rules of Order and these rules for the committee.