Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997

Summary: Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997 - Establishes the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform to study the laws relating to the financing of political activity and to report and recommend legislation to reform those laws. 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Commission, not later than July 1998 or 240 days after the appointment of its members (whichever occurs earlier), to submit to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, a report of the activities of the Commission.  Requires the report to include any recommendations for changes in the laws (including regulations) governing the financing of political activity, including any changes in House and Senate rules, to which nine or more Commission members may agree, together with drafts of:  (1) any legislation (including technical and conforming provisions) recommended by the Commission to implement such recommendations; and (2) any proposed amendment to the Constitution recommended by the Commission as necessary to implement such recommendations, except that if the Commission includes such a proposed amendment in its report, it shall also include recommendations and drafts for legislation that may be implemented prior to the adoption of such proposed amendment. Requires the Commission, in making recommendations and preparing drafts of legislation, to consider the following to be its primary goals:  (1) encouraging fair and open Federal elections that provide voters with meaningful information about candidates and issues; (2) eliminating the disproportionate influence of special interest financing of Federal elections; and (3) creating a more equitable electoral system for challengers and incumbents. 
(Sec. 7) Provides for expedited congressional consideration of any legislation introduced the substance of which implements a recommendation of the Commission submitted, including a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Commission on Campaign 
Finance Reform Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF COMMISSION.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Independent 
Commission on Campaign Finance Reform'' (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission''). The purposes of the Commission are to study the laws 
relating to the financing of political activity and to report and 
recommend legislation to reform those laws.

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members 
appointed within 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act by 
the President from among individuals who are not incumbent Members of 
Congress and who are specially qualified to serve on the Commission by 
reason of education, training, or experience.
    (b) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--Members shall be appointed as follows:
                    (A) 3 members (one of whom shall be a political 
                independent) shall be appointed from among a list of 
                nominees submitted by the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives.
                    (B) 3 members (one of whom shall be a political 
                independent) shall be appointed from among a list of 
                nominees submitted by the majority leader of the 
                Senate.
                    (C) 3 members (one of whom shall be a political 
                independent) shall be appointed from among a list of 
                nominees submitted by the minority leader of the House 
                of Representatives.
                    (D) 3 members (one of whom shall be a political 
                independent) shall be appointed from among a list of 
                nominees submitted by the minority leader of the 
                Senate.
            (2) Failure to submit list of nominees.--If an official 
        described in any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) fails to 
        submit a list of nominees to the President during the 15-day 
        period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) such subparagraph shall no longer apply; and
                    (B) the President shall appoint 3 members (one of 
                whom shall be a political independent) who meet the 
                requirements described in subsection (a) and such other 
                criteria as the President may apply.
            (3) Political independent defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term ``political independent'' means an individual who at no 
        time after January 1992--
                    (A) has held elective office as a member of the 
                Democratic or Republican party;
                    (B) has received any wages or salary from the 
                Democratic or Republican party or from a Democratic or 
                Republican party office-holder or candidate; or
                    (C) has provided substantial volunteer services or 
                made any substantial contribution to the Democratic or 
                Republican party or to a Democratic or Republican party 
                office-holder or candidate.
    (c) Chairman.--At the time of the appointment, the President shall 
designate one member of the Commission as Chairman of the Commission.
    (d) Terms.--The members of the Commission shall serve for the life 
of the Commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (f) Political Affiliation.--Not more than 4 members of the 
Commission may be of the same political party.

SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
appropriate. In carrying out the preceding sentence, the Commission 
shall ensure that a substantial number of its meetings are open 
meetings, with significant opportunities for testimony from members of 
the general public.
    (b) Quorum.--Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings. The approval of at least 
9 members of the Commission is required when approving all or a portion 
of the recommended legislation. Any member of the Commission may, if 
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is 
authorized to take under this section.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Pay and Travel Expenses of Members.--(1) Each member of the 
Commission shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
annual rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day 
(including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the 
actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.
    (2) Members of the Commission shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Staff Director.--The Commission shall, without regard to 
section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, appoint a staff 
director, who shall be paid at the rate of basic pay payable for level 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (c) Staff of Commission; Services.--
            (1) In general.--With the approval of the Commission, the 
        staff director of the Commission may appoint and fix the pay of 
        additional personnel. The Director may make such appointments 
        without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
        Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
        any personnel so appointed may be paid without regard to the 
        provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
        that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay 
        rates, except that an individual so appointed may not receive 
        pay in excess of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable 
        for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure by 
        contract the temporary or intermittent services of experts or 
        consultants pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States 
        Code.

SEC. 6. REPORT AND RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION.

    (a) Report.--Not later than July 1, 1998, or 240 days after the 
appointment of its members (whichever occurs earlier), the Commission 
shall submit to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the 
House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the 
Senate a report of the activities of the Commission.
    (b) Recommendations; Draft of Legislation.--The report under 
subsection (a) shall include any recommendations for changes in the 
laws (including regulations) governing the financing of political 
activity, including any changes in the rules of the Senate or the House 
of Representatives, to which 9 or more members of the Commission may 
agree, together with drafts of--
            (1) any legislation (including technical and conforming 
        provisions) recommended by the Commission to implement such 
        recommendations; and
            (2) any proposed amendment to the Constitution recommended 
        by the Commission as necessary to implement such 
        recommendations, except that if the Commission includes such a 
        proposed amendment in its report, it shall also include 
        recommendations (and drafts) for legislation which may be 
        implemented prior to the adoption of such proposed amendment.
    (c) Goals of Recommendations and Legislation.--In making 
recommendations and preparing drafts of legislation under this section, 
the Commission shall consider the following to be its primary goals:
            (1) Encouraging fair and open Federal elections which 
        provide voters with meaningful information about candidates and 
        issues.
            (2) Eliminating the disproportionate influence of special 
        interest financing of Federal elections.
            (3) Creating a more equitable electoral system for 
        challengers and incumbents.

SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.

    (a) In General.--If any legislation is introduced the substance of 
which implements a recommendation of the Commission submitted under 
section 6(b) (including a joint resolution proposing an amendment to 
the Constitution), subject to subsection (b), the provisions of section 
2908 (other than subsection (a)) of the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990 shall apply to the consideration of the 
legislation in the same manner as such provisions apply to a joint 
resolution described in section 2908(a) of such Act.
    (b) Special Rules.--For purposes of applying subsection (a) with 
respect to such provisions, the following rules shall apply:
            (1) Any reference to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        House of Representatives shall be deemed a reference to the 
        Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives 
        and any reference to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        Senate shall be deemed a reference to the Committee on Rules 
        and Administration of the Senate.
            (2) Any reference to the date on which the President 
        transmits a report shall be deemed a reference to the date on 
        which the recommendation involved is submitted under section 
        6(b).
            (3) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(2) of section 2908 of 
        such Act--
                    (A) debate on the legislation in the House of 
                Representatives, and on all debatable motions and 
                appeals in connection with the legislation, shall be 
                limited to not more than 10 hours, divided equally 
                between those favoring and those opposing the 
                legislation;
                    (B) debate on the legislation in the Senate, and on 
                all debatable motions and appeals in connection with 
                the legislation, shall be limited to not more than 10 
                hours, divided equally between those favoring and those 
                opposing the legislation; and
                    (C) debate in the Senate on any single debatable 
                motion and appeal in connection with the legislation 
                shall be limited to not more than 1 hour, divided 
                equally between the mover and the manager of the bill 
                (except that in the event the manager of the bill is in 
                favor of any such motion or appeal, the time in 
                opposition thereto shall be controlled by the minority 
                leader or his designee), and the majority and minority 
                leader may each allot additional time from time under 
                such leader's control to any Senator during the 
                consideration of any debatable motion or appeal.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after the date of the 
submission of its report under section 6.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums 
as are necessary to carry out its duties under this Act.