Committee (parliamentary)

“ Bagehot called it a hyphen that joins, a buckle that fastens, the executive and legislative together; and in another place he speaks of it as a committee of Parliament chosen to rule the nation. More strictly, it is a committee of the party that has a majority in the House of Commons. The minority are not represented upon it; and in this it differs from every other parliamentary committee. The distinction is so obvious to us to-day, we are so accustomed to government [55] by party wherever popular institutions prevail, that we are apt to forget the importance of the fact. ”

“ The argument in favor of the system of committees is the impossibility of a large deliberative body's examining every matter within the scope of its action in detail; the objection to it is the possibility of more easily corrupting or deceiving a small body than a large one; but whatever be the argument against it as a matter of theory, the committee system is fully recognized as a necessity and is too firmly intrenched in parliamentary practice to be successfully argued against. A select committee is one appointed at a special time to consider and report on a given topic ”

“ The custom in many societies of the presiding officer appointing as chairman of the committee the member making the motions for its appointment is objectionable and has no good precedent or warrant in parliamentary procedure; he is no more entitled to be chairman, or even to be one of the committee, than any other member is; moreover, such an appointment often leads to a very embarrassing condition of affairs, since the mover may be the most incompetent member for the position; furthermore, the custom bars all the members but one from being chairman of such committee. ”

“ When the committee is one for deliberation, or investigation, it should be larger and represent all parties, so that the fullest debate may be had in committee, and its opinion and recommendations, as contained in its report, carry as great weight as possible, because if any important faction is not represented the usefulness of the committee may be greatly impaired, and the chance of unpleasant debate in the assembly increased. In either case it is well to have a committee consist of an uneven number, in order to avoid a tie vote. ”

“ This requirement is according to obvious reason, and is sustained by parliamentary authorities. In familiar language, a proposition is committed to its friends and not to its enemies.
In illustration of this rule, we are told that members who have spoken directly against what is called “the body of the bill,” meaning, of course, the substance of the inquiry, are not expected to serve on the committee, but, should they be so nominated, to decline. Their presence on a committee is not unlike participation in a trial by a judge or juror interested in the result. ”

“ In effect, the cabinet comprises a parliamentary committee chosen, as Bagehot bluntly puts it, to rule the nation. If a cabinet group does not represent the ideas and purposes of Parliament as a whole, it at least represents those of the majority of the preponderating chamber ”

“ A quorum, that is the number that must be present in order to transact business, is a majority of the committee. A committee has no right to discipline any of its members: if any member obstructs business, its only recourse is to report the facts to the assembly for its action. If a committee finds that its investigations will involve expense that has not been authorized, it must obtain from the assembly such authority before incurring the expense. ”

“ Thus is the parliamentary rule which forbids a person unfriendly to the business of the committee, whatever it may be, whether bill or inquiry, from serving on the committee, one of those inhibitions by which public business is promoted, by which impartiality is secured, [Pg 55] and especially by which a minority is shielded against the wantonness of power. ”

“ While the assembly is acting as a committee of the whole the only action in order is to recommend to the assembly at large the adoption of, or rejection of the matter under discussion, or such other recommendation of action as comes within the authority of ordinary committees, and to move that the committee rise and report. Being a dependent body it cannot make any rule for itself unless authorized by the parent body, and its decision only amounts to an informal vote on the question at issue. ”

“ The above regulation to apply also to the case of citizens imprisoned at the time of being named representatives.
Art. 38. Every representative of the people is to receive a remuneration, which he is not at liberty to renounce.
Art. 39. The sittings of the Assembly are to be public. Nevertheless, the Assembly may form itself into a secret committee, on the requisition of a number of representatives, as settled by the rules. Each representative has the right of initiating parliamentary measures, which he will do according to the forms determined by the regulations. ”

“ When the House goes into committee, according to the formal Parliamentary phrase, the temptation to obstruct becomes indefinitely multiplied, for in committee a member can speak as often as he thinks fit on the subject—or, at least, such was his privilege before the alterations adopted in very recent years. ”

“ In many societies the presiding officer of the assembly is regarded as ex-officio a member of all communities; there is, however, no good authority for this, since only those persons regularly placed on a committee should be regarded as members thereof, neither does it follows that if he is a member of a committee, as, unless it is so ordered by the assembly, the committee cannot be deprived of its right to elect its own chairman. ”

“ The composition of the committees and the regulation of committee chairmanships shall be governed by the principles of proportional representation. Every parliamentary group shall have the right to be represented on every committee by at least one member. Independent members shall have the right to work on a committee with a right to vote.
(3) The committees shall operate within the framework of the mandates conferred upon them by the Landtag. They may deal with a matter within their area of responsibility on their own initiative and make recommendations to the Landtag. ”

“ The Parliamentary Committee has continued to regard itself almost entirely as a Parliamentary Committee, just as if the Trade Unions had not united in a distinct political organisation and had not created their own Parliamentary Labour Party. ”

“ When it is desired to consider a question in an assembly with the freedom of a committee, a motion should be made to consider the question informally. This motion has the same rank as to commit, and if it is adopted members may speak on the main question and its amendments as often as they can obtain the floor. In recognizing members as having the floor the chair must give the preference to members who have not spoken. ”

“ When the committee meets, the proceedings are usually quite informal. The committee cannot limit debate. Members do not rise and address the chair to make motions or to debate, nor does the chair need to stand while putting questions. Motions are not seconded and members may speak as many times as they please but no longer at any time than is allowed in the assembly. The chairman, instead of abstaining from debate and from expressing his opinions as in the assembly, usually takes the most active part in the debate and puts questions to vote on his own initiative after an informal discussion. ”

“ In case the committee makes recommendations and neglects to submit resolutions to carry them out, the recommendations should all be repeated at the close of the report and the committee's chairman should move their adoption. If this motion is adopted the recommendations become the recommendations of the assembly the same as if it had originated them. It is seldom that a report should contain recommendations without resolutions to carry them out. ”

“ If only one of these methods is mentioned, the chair assumes that to be the will of the assembly just as if a vote had been taken. Otherwise the chair puts the questions to vote without any motion in the order (1) , (2) , (3) without reference to the order in which they were made. If it is adopted the chair at once calls for nominations from the floor. If objection is made no member can nominate more than one member of the committee, until every member has had an opportunity to make a nomination. Except in very large bodies nominations are made by calling out the name without rising. ”

“ If it is desired to have a smaller quorum than a majority for a board or standing committee it must be provided for in the by-laws of the parent body. It is impracticable for a majority of the members of an ordinary society to be present at many of the meetings, so it has been found best to authorize a smaller quorum. In large societies the quorum is often less than 10 per cent, of the membership.
Session and Meeting. Each regular or special meeting of a society, together with its adjourned meetings, constitutes a session. ”

“ Only those whose credentials are not disputed have a right to vote. After the membership has been decided, the assembly will, by vote, perfect the organization by making the temporary officers the permanent, or by electing permanent officers, or by appointing a committee to nominate permanent officers, to be approved by the assembly. As soon as the permanent officers are elected the temporary officers retire, the permanent officers taking their places and the assembly is fully organized for business. ”

“ The tellers then retire and count the ballots, bringing back for the assembly's decision any question about which there is difference of opinion. The decision by the tellers themselves must always be unanimous.
At the annual or periodical election of officers most societies have a nominating committee previously appointed which submits a ticket with the name of a nominee for each office. ”

“ After a member has accepted an office or membership on a committee, he cannot relieve himself from the responsibility of such service until the society has accepted his resignation, or has had a reasonable opportunity to accept it and to fill the vacancy. A member accepts an office if he does not decline it at the first opportunity. ”

“ If there is to be but one ballot it should be the electing ballot after nominations have been made from the floor, or by a nominating committee and nominations from the floor.
Mr. N. I move to amend the motion by striking out the word "and" and inserting the words "by a committee of three appointed by the chair, and that they be," so that the motion will read, "that the alternates be nominated by a committee of three appointed by the chair, and that they be elected by ballot."
Mr. M. Mr. President, that is not a proper amendment to my motion. ”

“ If the society is to be a permanent one the presiding officer is usually called the president. A vice president is also elected, to preside in the absence of the president; a secretary to keep a record of the doings of the society, and such other officers as are necessary to properly perform the duties required by the organization. In such cases immediately after the temporary organization, as described in section 5, has been completed, a carefully selected committee should be appointed to draft a constitution, by-laws and rules. ”

“ Where proxy voting is allowed a proxy committee should be appointed a reasonable time before the voting begins, in order that this committee, after ascertaining who have given proxies, to whom given, extent of power conferred, etc., may prepare a list for the use of the secretary, and report to the assembly before the voting begins. ”

“ The instructor appoints a chairman and a secretary. The secretary keeps a memorandum of the motions made and their disposition without attempting to put his record in the form of minutes. He should be able, however, to furnish the exact words of every main motion and amendment.]
Chairman. The meeting will come to order. [As soon as all are seated and quiet, he says:] Business is now in order.
Mr. A. I move "that a committee be appointed to investigate the ventilating system of the High School." ”

“ Most fraternal organizations have a standing committee known as an executive committee or council of administration whose duty is to attend to pressing matters of the organization between its annual meetings. ”

“ Depose from office that is not held for a definite period unless previous notice has been given.
Discharge a Committee, unless previous notice has been given.
Reconsider in Committee when one of the majority is absent and has not been notified of the proposed reconsideration. ”

“ He must have sufficient knowledge of committees to enable him, without embarrassment, to serve as chairman of one. He must thoroughly understand the subject of amendments, which is the most important, and, perhaps, the most difficult part of parliamentary law. ”

“ Unless the assembly has appointed a chairman, either directly or through its presiding officer, the first named on a committee, and in his absence the next named member, becomes chairman, and so on and should act as such unless the committee by a majority of its number elects a chairman, which it has the right to do if the assembly has not appointed one, and which a standing committee usually does. ”