Ebook Reorganization of the House of Representatives: Modern Reform Efforts
The House standing committee system began in 1789 with the creation of the Committee on Enrolled Bills. By 1810, the House had 10 standing committees. By the time of the Civil War, thestandingcommittee system was entrenched; the House had 39 standing panels. When Woodrow Wilson wrote his doctoral dissertation in 1885, he characterized Congress as “a government by the chairmen of the Standing Committees of Congress.”
In the years following, many new standing committees were created, although veryfew were abolished. By1913, there were 61 standingcommittees in the House. In 1927, the House combined 11 expenditure committees into one Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments.
By the early 1940s, there was extensive criticism of Congress by scholars and Members themselves. In response, Congress created a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, thereby marking the beginning of numerous efforts to reorganize Congress, including the House’s committee system.
Since the 1946 effort, Congress created two more joint committees. The House also created two select committees and two commissions to review its internal organization and operations. The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference have studied various aspects of House organization and the committee system. The minoritypartyalternativesoffered to themajoritypartyresolutions adoptingtherules for a new Congress have contained recommendations for congressional reorganization.
Contents
Introduction
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, 79 th Congress (1945-1946)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
Committee Activity and Recommendations
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 91st Congress (1969-1970)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
Committee Activity and Recommendations
Party Caucus Reforms, 92nd, 93rd, and 94th Congresses (1971-1975)
House Select Committee on Committees (Bolling Committee), 93rdCongress (1973-1974)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
Committee Activity and Recommendations
House Commission on Information and Facilities (Brooks Commission), 94th Congress (1975-1976)
Creation, Membership and Funding
Commission Activity and Recommendations
House Commission on Administrative Review (Obey Commission), 94-95th Congresses (1976-1977)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
Commission Activity and Recommendations
House Select Committee on Committees (Patterson Committee),96th Congress (1979-1980)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
Commission Activity and Recommendations
Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, 102nd and 103rd Congresses (1991-1994)
Republican Control, 104th Congress (1995-1996)
House Select Committee on Homeland Security, 108 th Congress (2003-2004)
Creation, Membership, and Funding
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