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John O. Marsh Files (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 8, folder "Congress - House Democratic Caucus
Rules" of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 8 of The John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
JAN 30 1975
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 29, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
DON RUMSFELD
JACK MARSH
THRU:
MAX FRIEDERSDORF
VERN LOEN VL
FROM:
CHARLIE LEPPERT Cog.
SUBJECT:
House Democratic Caucus Rules
Attached for your information is a copy of the House Democratic Caucus
Rules and Manual as adopted by the Democratic Caucus of the 94th Congress.
cc: Bennett
there be where found
D- keep
they can
easily M
1HE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
PREAMBLE
In adopting the following rules for the Democratic Caucus, we affirm and declare that the follow-
ing cardinal principles should control Democratic action:
a. In essentials of Democratic principles and doctrine, unity.
b. In nonessentials, and in all things not involving fidelity to party principles, entire individual
independence.
c. Party alignment only upon matters of party faith or party policy.
d. Friendly conference and, whenever reasonably possible, party cooperation.
STANDING RULES
R 1. Membership
a. All Democratic Members of the House of Representatives shall be prima facie members of the
Democratic Caucus.
b. Any member of the Democra Caucus of the House of Representatives failing to abide by
the rules governing the same shall thereby automatically cease to be a member of the Caucus.
R 2. Meeting Dates
Meetings of the Democratic Caucus may be called by the chairman upon his own motion and shall
be called by him whenever requested in writing by 50 members of the Caucus or at the request of the
Party Leader. While the House is in session, the Democratic Caucus shall meet regularly at a time
and place to be determined by the chairman, on the 3d Wednesday of each month, except January of
odd numbered years. If the House not be in session on the 3d Wednesday, the monthly Caucus shall
be held on the next succeeding Wednesday on which the House is in session. The chairman may cancel
any monthly Caucus, but not two consecutive monthly Caucuses, provided members are given reason-
able notice of such cancellation. Members of the Caucus shall not schedule committee meetings or
hearings at times when the Caucus is to bei in session.
R 3. Presiding Officer
The chairman shall have the right to name any member of the Caucus to perform the duties of
the Chair during the temporary absence of the chairman.
R 4. Quorum
A quorum of the Caucus shall consist of a majority of the Democratic Members of the House. If
the absence of a quorum is established, the chairman may continue the meeting for purposes of dis-
cussion only, but-no motion of any kind, except a motion to adjourn, shall be in order at such con-
tinued meeting.
R 5. Agenda
At each such monthly Caucus, Members shall have the right to place before the Caucus any ques-
tion, provided written notice of such intention is (1) delivered to the office of the chairman, and (2)
transmitted to all members of the Caucus not later than 5 p.m. on the 9th day immediately preceding
the day of such Caucus. The chairman shall prescribe the order of business and shall provide members
with an agenda at least 5 days before the Caucus. Amendments to the agenda shall be in order only
if submitted to Caucus members at least 48 hours before the hour of convening and if supported in
writing by 50 members.
R 6. Rules
General parliamentary law, with such special rules as may be adopted, shall govern the meetings
of the Caucus. The five-minute rule that governs the House of Representatives shall govern debate
in the Democratic Caucus, unless suspended by a vote of the Caucus.
R 7. Elections
In the election of officers and in the nomination of candidates for office in the House, a majority
of those present and voting shall bind the membership of the Caucus.
No Member shall be elected to serve as Chairman, Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Demo-
cratic Caucus for more than two consecutive terms.
R S. Caucus Votes and Party Issues
In deciding upon action in the House involving party policy or principle, a two-thirds vote of
those present and voting at a Caucus meeting shall bind all members of the Caucus: Provided, The
said two-thirds vote is a majority of the full Democratic membership of the House: And provided
further, That no member shall be bound upon questions involving a construction of the Constitution
of the United States or upon which he made contrary pledges to his constituents prior to his election or
received contrary instructions by resolutions or platform from his nominating authority.
Whenever any member of the Caucus shall determine, by reason of either of the exceptions pro-
vided for in the above paragraph, not to be bound by the action of the Caucus on those questions, it
shall be his duty, if present, to SO advise the Caucus before the adjournment of the meeting, or if not
present at the meeting, to promptly notify the Democratic Leader in writing, so that the party may
be advised before the matter comes to issue upon the floor of the House.
R 9. Admittance to Caucus Meetings
No persons, except Democratic Members of the House of Representatives, a Caucus Journal
Clerk, and other necessary employees, shall be admitted to the meetings of the Caucus without the
express permission of the chairman.
R 10. Journal and Notification of Policy Actions
The Caucus shall keep a journal of its proceedings, which shall be published after each meeting,
and which shall be available for inspection by any member of the Caucus upon request. The yeas
and nays on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal,
and a copy of each record vote shall be distributed to each Member of the Caucus. Provided, however,
that a question shall be decided by secret ballot or other non-record vote if a majority so demand.
Provided, further, that all votes involving the nomination or election of Members for office in the
Caucus or in the House, including committee chairmanships, shall be by secret ballot unless a majority
decide otherwise.
R 11. Manual of the House Democratic Caucus
There shall be a Manual of the House Democratic Caucus which shall contain all resolutions of
continuing force and effect. Said Manual shall be kept current. Topical resolutions need not be in-
cluded in the Manual but shall be published in the Journal. All matter included in the Manual shall
have the same affect as if it were included in the Standing Rules.
M I. Standing Committee Memberships
A. Committee Ratios. Committee ratios should be established to create firm working majorities on each committee.
In determining the ratio on the respective standing committees, the Speaker should provide for a minimum of three
Democrats for each two Republicans.
B. Seniority. The Committee on Committees shall recommend to the Caucus nominees for chairman and member-
ship of each committee other than the Committee on Rules for which the Democratic nominee for Speaker or
Speaker as the case may be shall have exclusive nominating authority. Recommendations for committee posts need
not necessarily follow seniority.
C. Nominations for Committee Membership. Upon a letter from a Member, signed by 50 percent or more of said
Member's State Democratic Delegation, including said Member, said Member shall automatically be considered for
nomination by the Committee on Committees for the committee membership position to which said Member aspires.
The Chairman of the Committee on Committees shall see that such Member's name is placed in nomination. The pro-
visions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to nominations for the Committee on Rules.
D. Procedures for Electing Committee Chairmen and Members. The Democratic nominee for Speaker or Speaker
as the case may be shall recommend to the Caucus nominees for chairman and membership of the Committee on Rules.
Debate and balloting on any such nomination shall be subject to the same provisions as apply to the nominations of
chairmen or Members of other committees. If a majority of those present and voting reject any nominee for chairman
or membership of the Committee on Rules, the Democratic nominee for Speaker or Speaker as the case may be
shall be entitled to submit new nominations until any such positions are filled. Chairmen: The Committee on Com-
mittees shall nominate one Member of each committee, other than the Committee on Rules. for the position of
chairman and such nominations need not necessarily follow seniority. The Caucus shall vote on each nominee. If a
secret ballot is demanded on any chairman nominated by the Committee on Committees, such vote will be taken by
secret ballot if the demand for the same is supported by one-fifth of those present. No debate shall be allowed unless
requested by a nominee or a Member who wishes to speak in opposition to a nomination provided that the request to
speak in opposition is supported by three or more Members. Debate on any nomination shall be limited to 30 minutes
equally divided between proponents and opponents of that nominee, such time to be further extended only by majority
vote of the Caucus. If a majority of those present and voting reject its nominee for chairman, the Committee on Com-
mittees shall make a new nomination within 5 days. Five to ten days after the Committee on Committees reports such
new nominations, the Caucus shall meet to consider the new nominee of the Committee on Committees and any additional
nominations offered from the floor. Only Members who have been recommended for membership on the committee shall
be eligible for nomination as chairman. Should additional nominations be made from the floor, debate shall be limited
to 15 minutes per nominee, unless extended by majority vote of the Caucus; election shall be by secret ballot; and a
majority of those present and voting a quorum being present, shall be required to elect.
The Committee on Committees shall make recommendations to the Caucus regarding the assignment of Members
to each committee other than the Committee on Rules, one committee at a time. Upon a demand supported by 10 or more
Members, a separate vote shall be had on any member of the committee. If any such motion prevails, the committee
list of that particular committee shall be considered recommitted to the Committee on Committees for the sole purpose
of implementing the-direction of the Caucus. Also, such demand, if made and properly supported, shall be debated for
no more than 30 minutes with the time equally divided between proponents and opponents. If the Caucus and the Com-
mittee on Committees be in disagreement after completion of the procedure herein provided, the Caucus may make final
and complete disposition of the matter.
E. Rules for Making Committee Assignments. For the purposes of this section the following committee designa-
tions shall apply:
(1) Appropriations; Ways and Means; and Rules Committee shall be "exclusive" committees.
(2) Agriculture; Armed Services; Banking, Currency and Housing; Education and Labor; Foreign
Affairs; Commerce and Health; Judiciary; and Public Works and Transportation shall be considered
"major".committees.
(3) Budget; Government Operations; House Administration; Interior and Insular Affairs; Internal Security;
Merchant Marine and Fisheries; Post Office and Civil Service; Science and Technology; Small Business;
Veterans' Affairs; and District of Columbia shall be considered "nonmajor" committees.
a. No Democratic Member of an exclusive committee shall also serve on another exclusive, major, or non-
major committee.
b. Each Democratic Member shall be entitled to serve on one but only one exclusive or one major committee.
c. No Democratic Member shall serve on more than one major and one nonmajor committee or two nonmajor
committees.
d. Members who served as members of the Select Committee on Small Business or the Small Business Sub-
committee of the Committee on Banking and Currency on October 8, 1974, shall not be deemed to be in violation
of the provisions of this clause by reason of membership on the Small Business Committee.
e. Members of the Budget Committee as of December 1, 1974, shall not be deemed to be in violation of the
provisions of this clause by reason of their Budget Committee membership and Members of the Appropriations
and Ways and Means Committees shall be eligible for membership on the Budget Committee as provided by law,
notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a.
M II. Standing Full Committee and Subcommittee Chairmanships
A. The chairman of a full committee shall not be the chairman of more than one subcommittee on such full com-
mittee and shall insofar as practicable permit subcommittee chairman of other subcommittees to handle legislation on
the floor which has been reported by their subcommittee.
B. No Member shall be chairman of more than one legislative subcommittee. A subcommittee chairman shall be
entitled to select and designate at least one staff member for said subcommittee, subject to the approval of a majority
of the Democratic Members of said full committee. Said staff member shall be compensated at a salary commensurate
with the responsibilities prescribed by said subcommittee chairman. The staff members' compensation shall be provided
out of appropriated amounts, if any, rather than statutory amounts allowed each committee.
C. No Member shall be a member of more than two committees with legislative jurisdiction.
D. The following committees shall be exempt from the three immediately preceding provisions: House Administra-
tion; Standards of Official Conduct; House Recording; House Scauty Shop; and Joint Committees.
E. A Member who served as chairman or subcommittee chairman of the Select Committee on Small Business or 25
subcommittee chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee of the Banking and Currency Committee as of October S,
1974, shall not be deemed to be in violation of the provisions of this clause because of service as chairman or sub-
committee chairman on the Small Business Committee. The chairman of a major or exclusive full committee shall not
serve simultaneously as the chairman of any other full, select or joint committee.
F. Members of the Budget Committee shall be eligible for subcommittee chairmaniships on such committee without
regard to the first sentence of section B.
M III. Committee and Subcommittee Organization and Procedure
A. At the start of each Congress, the chairman of each standing committee or other committee with legislative
jurisdiction shall call a meeting of all of the Democratic Members of the committee, giving at least 3 days notice to all
Democratic Members of the committee. Said meeting shall be called subsequent to the House Democratic Caucus approval.
of the committee lists but prior to any organizational meeting of the full committee. Such Caucus shall fill the positions
of subcommittee chairmen and subcommittee members in accordance with procedures described in sections M. V. A and
M. V. B and shall approve and secure adoption of committee rules incorporating the following principles:
If
(1) Jurisdiction and number of subcommittees. The Democratic Caucus of each committee shall establish the
number of subcommittees and shall fix the jurisdiction of each subcommittee.
(2) Powers and duties of subcommittees. Each subcommittee is authorized to meet hold hearings, receive
evidence and report to the committee on all matters referred to it. Subcommittee chairmen shall set
meeting datesafter consultation with the chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view toward
avoiding simultaneous scheduling of committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings wherever possible.
MANUAL-CONTINUED
(3) Reference of legislation and other matters. All legislation and other matters referred to a committee shall
N.B.
be referred to the subcommittee of appropriate jurisdiction within 2 weeks unless, by majority vote of the
Democratic Members of the full committee, consideration is to be by the full committee.
(4) Party ratios. The Democratic Caucus of each committee shall determine an appropriate ratio of Demo-
cratic to minority party members for each subcommittee and shall authorize 2 Member or Members to
negotiate that ratio with the minority party; Provided, however, That party representation on each sub-
committee, including any ex-officio members, shall be no less favorable to the Democratic Party than the
N.B
ratio for the full committee. Provided, further, That Democratic Party representation on conference
committees also shall be no less favorable-to the Democratic Party than the ratio for the full House
committee.
(5) Subcommittee budget and staffing. Subject to overall control of a majority of the Democratic Caucus on
the committee, each subcommittee shall have an adequate budget to discharge its responsibilities for
legislation and oversight. All subcommittee staff shall be selected in the manner provided in II(B) of this
Manual.
M IV. Periodic Committee Caucuses
A. There shall be a Democratic Caucus of each standing committee and any other committee with legislative juris-
diction consisting of all Democratic Members of the committee. Meetings of the Caucus may be called by the chairman
or a majority of the Democratic Members of the committee with due notice to all Caucus Members. A quorum of the
Democratic Caucus on each committee shall consist of a majority of the Democratic Members assigned thereto. All
actions by the Democratic Caucus of said committees shall require a majority of those voting, a quorum being present.
Upon written request of 10 Democratic Members of any committee or upon the written request of 2 majority of the
Democratic Members, whichever is less, addressed to the chairman thereof to hold a Caucus of the Democratic Mem-
bers, said chairman shall call such Caucus within 10 days of such request. Said request shall contain the subject matter
for discussion at such Caucus.
M V. Rules for Making Subcommittee Assignments
A. Subcommittee Chairmen. At the Democratic Caucus described in section M III. A, Democratic Members of
the committee shall have the right, in order of full committee seniority, or seniority on the subcommittee concerned, as
the Democratic Caucus on the committee may determine, to bid for subcommittee chairmanships. Any such request
shall be subject to approval by a majority of those present and voting in the Democratic Caucus on the committee. If
the committee Caucus rejects a subcommittee chairmanship bid, the next senior Democratic Member may bid for the
position as in:the first instance. Provided however, That the full Democratic Caucus also shall vote on each Member
nominated to serve as-chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee following the same procedure set forth in Caucus
Rules for the election of standing committee chairmen.
B. Subcommittee Membership. All Democratic subcommittee positions on House standing committees shall be filled
at the Democratic Committee Caucus described in section M III. A in the following manner:
(1) Step One-Members who served on the committee in the preceding Congress shall be entitled to retain not
more than two subcommittee assignments held on that committee in the preceding Congress. Members
chosen as subcommittee chairmen in accord with the procedure set forth in section M V. A shall be en-
titled to retain only one other subcommittee assignment held on that committee in the preceding Congress.
(2) Step Two-Members who retain no subcommittee assignments in Step One and new Members shall be
entitled, in order of their ranking on the full committee, to select one subcommittee position each.
(3) Step Three-Members who have selected only one subcommittee assignment shall be entitled, in order of
their ranking on the full committee, to select a second subcommittee assignment, to the extent that sub-
committee size permits.
(4) Step Four-Any remaining subcommittee vacancies shall be filled by additional rounds of selection in
order of Members' ranking on the full committee.
(5) If a committee Caucus determines, as described in section M V. A, that Members may bid for subcommit-
tee chairmanships by subcommittee rather than full committee seniority, the ranking Members on each
subcommittee shall be determined by the order in which Members elect to go on the subcommittee.
M VI. Appointments to Joint and Select Committees, Boards, and Commissions
In those instances where the Speaker has the power to appoint Members to joint and select committees, boards, and
commissions, due consideration should be given to sharing the workload and responsibility among qualified Members
of the House who have indicated an interest in the subject matter of the committee, board, or commission, and have ex-
pressed a willingness to actively participate in its deliberations and operations. All Members serving on joint and select
committees, boards, and commissions by virtue of appointment by the Speaker shall be considered to have completed
their tenure and their positions deemed to be vacant until filled by appointment or reappointment by the Speaker.
M VII. House Democratic Policy and Steering Committee
There should be a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee constituted as follows:
a. Membership. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee shall consist of the elected Democratic leadership-
(the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Caucus Chairman), 12 Members who shall be elected from 12 equal regions as
set forth below, and not to exceed eight Members who shall be appointed by the Speaker. (Provided, that in the 93d and
94th Congresses, five of the eight appointees shall be the Whip and the four Deputy Whips) and the Speaker is
authorized to appoint one additional Member for the 94th Congress only. The size of the committee shall be reviewed
at the start of the 94th Congress and consideration shall be given to reducing the number of appointive Members
thereto.
b. Organization and Procedure. The Speaker shall serve as Chairman of the committee, the Majority Leader as
Vice Chairman, and the Caucus Chairman as Second Vice Chairman. The committee shall adopt its own rules which
shall be in writing; shall keep a journal of its proceedings; and shall meet at least once each month while the House
is in session and upon the call of the Chairman or whenever requested in writing by four of its Members. In addition,
the committee may authorize the Chairman to appoint ad hoc committees from among the entire membership of the
Caucus to conduct special studies or investigations whenever necessary.
c. Functions. The committee shall make recommendations regarding party policy, legislative priorities, scheduling
of matters for House or Caucus action, and other matters 25 appropriate to further Democratic programs and policies.
d. Regions. The 50 States (and other areas represented in the House) shall be divided into 12 compact and con-
tiguous regions, each containing approximately one-twelfth of the Members of the Democratic Caucus. At the beginning
of each Congress, the Speaker (or Minority Leader if Democrats are in the minority) shall submit to the Caucus for its
approval changes necessary to maintain, as near as practicable, an equal number of Members in each region. The pro-
posed changes and a list of Members in each region indicating the total years of service for each as of the start of that
Congress shall be made available to Members of the Caucus at least 10 days before a Caucus which shall meet no later
than March 1 of odd-numbered years to approve or amend the regions.
e. Regional Elections. Each region shall meet no later than March 30 in odd-numbered years to elect its repre-
sentatives to the committee. Such regional elections shall be held at a time determined by the Chairman of the Steer-
ing and Policy Committee and announced by written notice at least 10 days in advance. The Chairman shall also desig-
nate a Member from each region to call that region's election meeting to order and to preside until a permanent
presiding officer is elected, which shall be the first order of business. If at such meeting, the election of a Member to
the Steering and Policy Committee does not take place due to lack of a quorum, the Chairman shall reschedule the
meeting as soon as practicable, provided Members are given at least 48 hours notice in writing of when and where
the rescheduled meeting will be held. Nominations may be made from the floor or in advance of the election meeting
MANUAL-CONTINUED
by written notice signed by two Members from the region other than the nominee. Written nominations must be de-
livered to the Steering and Policy Committee office not later than 5 p.m. on the second day immediately preceding the
day of the election meeting and mailed to all Members of the Caucus in that region not later than midnight of the
second day immediately preceding the day of the election meeting. Following the close of advance nominations, a ballot
shall be prepared for each region containing the names of candidates nominated in advance for election from the region.
Candidates shall be listed in alphabetical order and all ballots shall contain space to write in the names of Members
nominated from the floor. One-half of the Members of a region shall constitute a quorum for an election and a majority
of those present and voting shall be required to elect. If more than one ballot be required, the candidate receiving the
fewest votes on each ballot shall be eliminated from all succeeding votes until one candidate receives a majority of the
votes cast. If a region's representative in the preceding Congress had completed 12 or more years service at the start
of said Congress, he or she shall be succeeded by a Member who has less than 12 years service. This provision shall not
apply to the re-election of an incumbent Member of the committee who is entitled to seek another term.
f. Terms of Service. Each regionally elected Member of the committee shall serve for a term of two years, or
until his successor is elected. In the event of a vacancy the region shall elect a successor to fill the unexpired term. No
Member shall be elected or appointed to more than two consecutive full terms. However, six of the 12 members elected
in the 93d Congress-as determined by lot at the first meeting of the committee-shall not be eligible for re-election
in the 94th Congress.
M VIII. Committee on Organization, Study and Review
The Caucus Chairman shall appoint a committee on Organization, Study and Review for the purposes of review of
the Caucus Rules and Manual as circumstances may indicate, with no powers other than those recommending action
to the Caucus.
M IX. Closed Rule Restriction
(a) It shall be the policy of the Democratic Caucus that no committee chairman or designee shall seek, and the
Democratic Members of the Rules Committee shall not support, any rule or order prohibiting any germane amendment
to any bill reported from committee until four (4) legislative days have elapsed following notice in the Congressional
Record of an intention to do SO.
(b) If, within the four (4) legislative days following said notice in the Congressional Record, 50 or more Demo-
cratic Members give written notice to the chairman of the committee seeking the rule and to the chairman of the
Rules Committee that they wish to offer a particular germane amendment, the chairman or designee shall not seek and
the Democratic Members of the Rules Committee shall not support, any rule or order relating to the bill or resolution
involved until the Democratic Caucus has met and decided whether the proposed amendment should be allowed to be
considered in the House.
(c) If 50 or more Democratic Members give notice as provided in subsection (b) above, then, notwithstanding the
provisions of Caucus Rule No. 5, the Caucus shall meet for such purpose within three (3) legislative days following a
request for such a Caucus to the Speaker and the chairman of the Democratic Caucus by said committee chairman or
designee.
(d) Provided, further, that notices referred to above also shall be submitted to the Speaker, the Majority Leader,
and the chairman of the Democratic Caucus.
M X. Budget Committee
A. Party Ratio. The Budget Committee shall consist of not less than 14 Democrats and 9 Republicans, and the
ratio on said committee shall be readjusted at the start of the 94th Congress to at least reflect any increase in Demo-
cratic membership in the House.
B. Leadership Member. The Speaker shall appoint the leadership member of the committee.
C. Nomination of Other Members. The chairman of the Appropriations Committee shall nominate three of the
Democratic Members of that committee, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee shall nominate three of the
Democratic Members of that committee, and the chairman of the Steering and Policy Committee shall nominate seven
Members of other committees. A list of said nominees shall be distributed to all Members of the Caucus at least 9 days
prior to the election meeting. Members shall then have 7 days to nominate additional candidates by written notice
signed by five Members other than the nominee. Written nominations must be delivered to the offices of the Caucus
chairman and the Caucus secretary not later than noon on the second day immediately preceding the election meeting,
and the Caucus chairman or secretary shall mail a list of all nominees to Members of the Caucus that same day.
D. Election Procedure. Election shall be by ballot which lists all candidates by category (Appropriations, Ways
and Means, other committees) in the order they were nominated, and a majority shall be required to elect.
E. Election of Chairman. Following election of all Democratic Members, the Caucus shall elect one of said Mem-
bers to serve as chairman. Nominating speeches shall not exceed 3 minutes per nominee and seconding speeches shall
not exceed 1 minute and shall be limited to two per nominee. Election shall be by ballot and a majority shall be required
to elect.
F. Service Limitations. The following limitations shall apply to Members of the Budget Committee:
(1) The Democratic Members elected in 1974 shall serve on an interim basis for the remainder of the 93d
Congress only. A new election shall be held at the start of the 94th Congress and half of the Members
elected at that time (to be determined by lot at the first meeting following election) shall not be eligible
for reelection at the start of the 95th Congress.
(2) The chairman of the Budget Committee shall not serve simultaneously as chairman of any other standing
committee.
(3) No Member shall serve as a Member of the Budget Committee during more than two Congresses in any
period of five successive Congresses beginning after 1974 (disregarding for this purpose any service per-
formed as = Member of such committee for less than a full session in any Congress). All selections of
Members to serve on the committee shall be made without regard to seniority.
M XI. Election Procedure for Ways and Means Vacancies
Resolved, That for the 94th Congress the Democratic Caucus shall elect Democratic Members to fill vacancies on
the Ways and Means Committee in accord with the following procedure:
(1) Nominations. The Democratic Committee on Committees shall nominate one Member for each Democratic
vacancy to be filled on the Ways and Means Committee and shall distribute the name (s) of such nomi-
nee(s) to all Members of the Democratic Caucus at least 9 days prior to the election meeting. Members
shall then have 7 days to nominate additional candidates by written notice signed by 5 Democratic Mem-
bers other than the nominee. Written nominations must be delivered to the offices of the Caucus chairman
and the Caucus secretary not later than noon at the second day immediately preceding the election meet-
ing, and the Caucus chairman or secretary shall mail a list of all nominees to Members of the Caucus
that same day.
(2) Election Procedure. Election shall be by ballot which lists all candidates in the order they were nominated,
and a majority shall be required to elect; Provided, however, that any ballot which contains votes for
more or fewer candidates than there are vacancies to be filled shall not be counted.
(3) Previous Members. The nomination of any Member who served on the committee in the preceding Con-
gress shall be reported by the Committee on Committees for action by the Caucus in the same manner as
is provided for nomination of Members to other standing committees.
Cong
relations
May 22, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: MAX FRIEDERSDORF
FROM:
JACK MARSH
The attached is an issue which all of us, particularly your House
guys, should follow closely.
Many thanks.
JOM/dl
FORD is LIBRARY 071330
Congress: Comment
29
COMMENT
Let the Sun Shine in the Caucus
(Editorial, Excerpted from the Baltimore Sun)
Of the issues that will come before the House Democratic
caucus this week, one of the most important has to do with
openness by the caucus itself. Democrats hold these meetings
behind closed doors. Republicans used to, but recently
decided on open meetings. The Democrats ought to follow that
lead. Many of the reforms made in Congressional procedures
in the past few years have been made in the spirit of fairness
and openness, and it is an anomaly for the caucus to make its
decisions out of sight of the public. (5/19/75)