RULES

One Hundredth and Ninth Congress

Rule No.1—General Provisions

1. The Rules of the House are the rules of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library so far as applicable, except that a motion to recess from day to day is a motion of high privilege in committees.
2. The committee is authorized at any time to conduct such investigations and studies as it may consider necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under House Rule X and (subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as required by House Rule XI, clause 5) to incur expenses (including travel expenses) in connection therewith.
3. The committee is authorized to have printed and bound testimony and other data presented at hearings held by the committee, and to distribute such information by electronic means. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in connection with any meeting or hearing of the committee shall be paid from the appropriate House account.
4. The Committee’s rules shall be published in the Congressional Record as soon as possible following the Committee’s organizational meeting in each odd numbered year.

Rule No. 2—Regular and Special Meetings

1. The regular meeting date of the Joint Committee on the Library shall be the second Wednesday of every month when the House is in session in accordance with Clause 2(b) of House Rule XI. Additional meetings may be called by the chairman as he may deem necessary or at the request of a majority of the members of the committee in accordance with Clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. The determination of the business to be considered at each meeting shall be made by the chairman subject to Clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. A regularly scheduled meeting need not be held if there is no business to be considered.
2. If the chairman of the committee is not present at any meeting of the committee, or at the discretion of the chairman, the vice chairman of the committee shall preside at the meeting. If the chairman and vice chairman of the committee are not present at any meeting of the committee, the ranking member of the majority party who is present shall preside at the meeting.

Rule No. 3—Open Meetings

As required by Clause 2(g), of House Rule XI, each meeting for the transaction of business of the committee, shall be open to the public except when the committee, in open session and with a quorum present, determines by roll call vote that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the House: provided, however, that no person other than members of the committee, and such congressional staff and such departmental representatives as they may authorize, shall be present in any business session which has been closed to the public.

Rule No. 4—Records and Roll Calls

1. The result of each roll call vote in any meeting of the committee shall be transmitted for publication in the Congressional Record as soon as possible, but in no case later than two legislative days following such roll call vote, and shall be made available for inspection by the public at reasonable times at the committee offices, including a description of the amendment, motion, order or other proposition; the name of each member voting for and against; and the members present but not voting.
2. All committee hearings, records, data, charts, and files shall be kept separate and distinct from the congressional office records of the member serving as chairman of the committee; and such records shall be the property of Congress and all members of congress shall have access thereto.

   House records of the committee which are at the National Archives shall be made available pursuant to House Rule VII. The chairman of the committee shall notify the ranking minority party member of any decision to withhold a record pursuant to the rule, and shall present the matter to the committee upon written request of any committee member.

3. To the maximum extent feasible, the committee shall make its publications available in electronic form.

Rule No. 5—Proxies

No vote by any member in the committee may be cast by proxy

Rule No. 6—Power to Sit and Act; Subpoena Power

1. For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions and duties under House Rules X and XI, the committee is authorized, (subject to subparagraph (b)(1) of the paragraph):

1. to sit and act at such times and places within the Untied States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings; and
2. to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the productions of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents; as it deems necessary. The chairman of the committee, or any member designated by the chairman, may administer oaths of any witness.

1. A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the committee in the conduct of any investigation or series of investigations or activities, only when authorized by a majority of the members voting, a majority being present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas under subparagraph (a)(2) may be delegated to the chairman of the committee pursuant to such rules and under such limitations as the committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the chairman of the committee or by any member designated by the committee.
2. Compliance with any subpoena issued by the committee may be enforced only as authorized or directed by the House.

Rule No.7—Quorums

For the purpose of taking any action other than issuing a subpoena, closing meetings, promulgating committee orders, or changing the rules of the committee, the quorum shall be one-third of the members of the committee. For purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.

Rule No. 8—Amendments

Any amendment offered to any pending matter before the committee must be made available in written form when requested by any member of the committee. If such amendment is not available in written form when requested, the chair will allow an appropriate period of time for the provision thereof.

Rule No. 9—Hearing Procedures

1. The chairman, with the concurrence of the vice chairman, in the case of hearings to be conducted by the committee, shall make public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any measure or matter at the earliest possible date. The clerk of the committee shall promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional Record as soon as possible after such public announcement is made
2. Unless excused by the chairman, each witness who is to appear before the committee shall file with the clerk of the committee, at least 48 hours in advance of his or her appearance, a written statement of his or her proposed testimony and shall limit his or her oral presentation to a summary of his or her statement.
3. When any hearing is conducted by the committee upon any measure or matter, the minority party members on the committee shall be entitled, upon request to the chairman by a majority of those minority members before the completion of such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearings thereon.
4. Committee members may question a witness only when they have been recognized by the chairman for that purpose, and only for a 5-minute period until all members present have had an opportunity to question the witness. The 5-minute period for questioning a witness by any one member can be extended as provided by House Rules. The questioning of a witness in committee hearings shall be initiated by the chairman, followed by the ranking minority party member and all other members alternating between the majority and minority. In recognizing members to question witnesses in this fashion, the chairman shall take into consideration the ratio of the majority to minority members present and shall establish the order of recognition for questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the members of the majority. The chairman may accomplish this by recognizing two majority members for each minority member recognized.
5. The following additional rules shall apply to hearing:

1. The chairman at a hearing shall announce in an opening statement the subject of the investigation.
2. A copy of the committee rules and this clause shall be made available to each witness.
3. Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional rights.
4. The chairman may punish breaches of order and decorum, and of professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and exclusion from the hearings; and the committee may cite the offender to the House for contempt.
5. If the committee determines that evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, it shall: a. afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to appear as a witness; b. receive such evidence or testimony in executive session; and c. receive and dispose of requests from such person to subpoena additional witnesses.
6. Except as provided in subparagraph (e)(5), the chairman shall receive and the committee shall dispose of requests to subpoena additional witnesses.
7. No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may be released or used in public sessions without the consent of the committee.
8. In the discretion of the committee, witnesses may submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for inclusion in the record. The committee is the sole judge of the pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at its hearing.
9. A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his testimony given at a public session or, if given at an executive session, when authorized by the committee.

Rule No. 10—Broadcasting of Committee Hearings and Meetings

Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the committee is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by television, radio, and still photography, as provided in Clause 4 of House Rule XI, subject to the limitations therein.

Rule No. 11—Travel of Members and Staff

1. Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, the provisions of this rule shall govern travel of committee members and staff. Travel for any member or any staff member shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the chairman. Travel may be authorized by the chairman for any member and any staff member in connection with the attendance of hearings conducted by the committee and meetings, conferences, and investigations which involve activities or subject matter under the general jurisdiction of the committee. Before such authorization is given there shall be submitted to the chairman in writing the following:

1. the purpose of the travel;
2. the dates during which the travel will occur;
3. the locations to be visited and the length of time to be spent in each;
4. the names of members and staff seeking authorization.

1. In the case of travel outside the United States of members and staff of the committee for the purpose of conducting hearings, investigations, studies, or attending meetings and conferences involving activities or subject matter under the jurisdiction of the committee, prior authorization must be obtained from the chairman. Before such authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the chairman, in writing, a request for such authorization. Each request, which shall be filed in a manner that allows for a reasonable period of time for review before such travel is scheduled to begin, shall include the following: a. the purpose of the travel; b. the dates during which the travel will occur; c. the names of the countries to be visited and the length of time to spend in each; d. an agenda of anticipated activities for each country for which travel is authorized together with a description of the purpose to be served and the areas of committee jurisdiction involved; and e. the names of members and staff for whom authorization is sought.
2. At the conclusion of any hearing, investigation, study, meeting or conference for which travel outside the United States has been authorized pursuant to this rule, members and staff attending meetings or conferences shall submit a written report to the chairman covering the activities and other pertinent observations or information gained as a result of such travel.

3. Members and staff of the committee performing authorized travel on official business shall be governed by applicable laws, resolutions, or regulations of the House and of the Committee on House Administration pertaining to such travel.

Rule No. 12—Powers and Duties of Subunits of the Committee

The chairman of the committee is authorized to establish appropriately named subunits, such as task forces, composed of members of the committee, for any purpose, measure or matter; one member of each such subunit shall be designated chairman of the subunit by the chairman of the committee. All such subunits shall be considered ad hoc subcommittees of the committee. The rules of the committee shall be the rules of any subunit of the committee, so far as applicable, or as otherwise directed by the chairman of the committee. Each subunit of the committee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents, as it deems necessary, and to report to the full committee on all measures or matters for which it was created. Chairmen of subunits of the committee shall set meeting dates with the approval of the chairman of the full committee, with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of committee and subunit meetings or hearings whenever possible. It shall be the practice of the committee that meetings of subunits not be scheduled to occur simultaneously with meetings of the full committee. In order to ensure orderly and fair assignment of hearing and meeting rooms, hearings and meetings should be arranged in advance with the chairman through the clerk of the committee.

Rule No. 13—Other Procedures and Regulations

The chairman of the full committee may establish such other procedures and take such actions as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing rules or to facilitate the effective operation of the committee.

Rule No. 14—Designation of Clerk of the Committee

For the purpose of these rules and the Rules of the House of Representatives, the chairman designated staff person of the committee shall act as the clerk of the committee.