Rules of the House
House Practice: Joint Committees
U.S. House of Representatives
HOUSE PRACTICE
A Guide to the Rules, Precedents, and Procedures of the House
115th Congress, 1st Session
§ 14 . Joint Committees
Generally
Joint committees are composed of Members from both Houses.
Jefferson noted that joint committees were used by the two Houses of
the English Parliament. Manual Sec. 325. Since the First Congress, a
joint committee has been used to make arrangements for the
inauguration of the President and Vice President. Manual Sec. 1112; 3
Hinds Sec. 1986. The early congresses formed joint standing committees
on the Library and Printing, which exist to this day. Manual
Sec. Sec. 1110, 1111; 4 Hinds Sec. Sec. 4337, 4347. For a current list
of joint committees, see Manual Sec. Sec. 1108-1112.
Joint committees, or committees of the House and Senate acting
jointly, have been used to investigate problems relating to
immigration (4 Hinds Sec. 4415), to resolve a dispute relating to the
electoral count (3 Hinds Sec. 1953), and to investigate the revision
and codification of the laws (4 Hinds Sec. 4410).
Jurisdiction, Functions, and Duties
Joint committees are used for study and investigation, supervision
and oversight, and sometimes for purely ceremonial activities. Joint
committees generally function in areas beyond the jurisdiction of any
particular committee of either House. Deschler Ch 17 Sec. 7. Joint
committees may report to both Houses if so directed (4 Hinds
Sec. Sec. 4421, 4422), or to either House (4 Hinds Sec. 4432; 7 Cannon
Sec. 2167).
A joint committee created by concurrent resolution may be
instructed by the two Houses acting concurrently or, if so authorized,
by either House acting independently. 4 Hinds Sec. 4421. However, a
joint committee created by statute is not susceptible to control by
one House; and its duties may not be enlarged or diminished by either
House acting independently. 7 Cannon Sec. 2164. A joint committee
created by concurrent resolution must be reestablished by a subsequent
Congress.
Composition; Voting
Recent joint committees have featured an equal number of Members
from both Houses, with the chair alternating between the House and
Senate, and with each member having one vote. Deschler Ch 17 Sec. 7.
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