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COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S HANDBOOK

 

CHAPTER I

 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

 

1.         SESSION STANDING COMMITTEES.

 

(a)        Designation of Chairman.

 

Standing committee chairmen are selected by the majority leadership in each house subject to confirmation by the majority party caucus.

 

(b)        Committee Membership.

 

Committee members are appointed by the presiding officer of each house with the advice and consent of the Rules Committee.  Membership is apportioned to reflect as nearly as possible the percentage of majority and minority members elected to each house.  Recommendations of the minority party caucus are generally taken into consideration in the appointment of minority party members to serve on the various standing committees. 

 

(c)        Other Committee Officers.

 

Although not required by rule, most committee chairmen designate another member of the committee (often the ranking member of the majority party) to serve as acting chairman in the absence of the chairman.

 

 

2.         INTERIM COMMITTEES.

 

(a)        Formation as Joint Interim Committee.

 

When the legislature in not in session, the respective standing committees of the House and Senate combine to function as "joint interim" committees.  W.S. 28‑8‑104(b).

 

(b)        Organizational Meeting.

 

Interim committees generally meet for the first time near the date for adjournment of the general session to organize, elect officers, adopt committee rules and discuss possible interim study topics (see Chapters II and V of this Handbook relating to interim committee studies.)

 

(c)        Election of Officers.

 

At the first meeting of the interim committee, the committee elects a chairman and vice-chairman or cochairman.  (The office of secretary for a committee is archaic and unnecessary.  It is preferable for the chairman or cochairman to approve the summary of proceedings.)  These officers serve for the remainder of the biennium.

 

Although not required, it is the common practice of many committees for the chairmanship to rotate between the House and Senate every two years.

 

Committees which elect cochairmen are urged to designate one of the two cochairs to handle administrative matters, e.g., signing vouchers, serving as the point of contact for staff in arranging meetings, etc.

 

 

3.         GENERAL OPERATING GUIDELINES.

 

(a)        Committee operations are subject to numerous guidelines ranging from specific statutory directives to informal "customs".

 

A list referencing the major sources of committee operating guidelines and providing a brief synopsis of significant information contained in each is attached as Appendix 1.

 

(b)        Appendix 4 and 5 contain two publications prepared by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) providing general guidelines and practical hints for committee chairmen.

 


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