COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION NINETY-SECOND CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. Res. 17 RESOLUTION AMENDING RULE XXIV OF THE STANDING 56 866 FEBRUARY 12, 1971 Printed for the use of the Committee on Rules and Administration U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1971 DEPOSITED BY THE UNITED C CONTENTS Text of Page Rule XXIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate... Senate Resolution 17... Opening statement of Hon. Robert C. Byrd, chairman of the Subcommittee on Standing Rules of the Senate.... Statement of 1 2 1 Hon. Fred R. Harris, a U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma.... 4 10, 29 Statements by Members of the Senate before the Ad Hoc Committee on Statement of Hon. Harrison A. Williams, Jr., a U.S. Senator from the 34 Statement of Hon. Barry Goldwater, a U.S. Senator from the State of 36 (III) SUBCOMMITTEE ON STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND ADMINISTRATION, The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 301, Old Senate Office Building, Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Vi vinia (chairman) presiding. Present: Senator Byrd of West Virginia. Also present: Gordon F. Harrison, staff director; Hugh Q. Alexander, chief counsel; Burkett Van Kirk, minority counsel; John P. Coder, professional staff member; and Thomas P. McGurn, professional staff member. Senator BYRD. The subcommittee will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on Senate. Resolution 17, introduced by Mr. Harris of Oklahoma for himself and Mr. Mathias of Maryland. On February 10, 1971, the chairman of the subcommittee stated for the Congressional Record a notice of hearing on Senate Resolution 17 to amend rule XXIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and all Senators were invited to present testimony orally or in writing, and all Senators were welcomed to appear before the subcommittee to present their views on the proposed change in rule XXIV. Mr. Harris and Mr. Mathias introduced the resolution on January 28, 1971. By unanimous consent the resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration with instructions that the Committee on Rules and Administration report the resolution back to the Senate not later than March 1, 1971, and so it is with the desire and the intent to comply with the instruction to report the resolution back to the Senate not later than March 1, 1971, that the subcommittee has announced this hearing today. Rule XXIV, which has to do with the appointment of committees will be placed in the record at this point. (Rule XXIV follows:) RULE XXIV APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES 1. In the appointment of the standing committees, the Senate, unless otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ballot to appoint severally the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the other members necessary to complete the same. A majority of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chairman of a standing committee, but a plurality of votes shall elect the other members thereof. All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, unless otherwise ordered, and a plurality of votes shall appoint. |