Bipartisan Campaign Practices Commission Act of 1996

Summary: Bipartisan Campaign Practices Commission Act of 1996 - Establishes the Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Practices.  Directs the Commission to study the laws and regulations that affect how campaigns for Federal office are conducted and make recommendations for change. 
(Sec. 6) Mandates a report to the Congress not later than 30 days after the convening of the 105th Congress.  Directs that if seven or more members concur on one or more recommendations, the agreeing members shall prepare for each a bill that would implement the recommendation and submit the implementing bill with the report. Provides that each implementing bill submitted with the report shall be given expedited consideration in the same way as an implementing bill for a trade agreement under the Trade Act of 1974. 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Campaign Practices 
Commission Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Bipartisan 
Commission on Campaign Practices'' (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall study the laws and regulations that affect how 
campaigns for Federal office are conducted and may make recommendations 
for change. In studying Federal campaign practices, the Commission 
shall consider--
            (1) whether too much or too little money is spent trying to 
        influence campaigns for Federal office and whether the funds 
        that are spent are sufficiently disclosed;
            (2) whether the current laws (including regulations) 
        governing campaigns for Federal office encourage or discourage 
        those most qualified to hold office from seeking it;
            (3) whether the existing system of financing campaigns for 
        Federal office promotes trust and confidence in the political 
        process among the electorate;
            (4) whether the rules governing access to media ensure that 
        the electorate has the greatest possible opportunity to be 
        informed of candidates' positions on the issues; and
            (5) such other matters as the Commission considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 members of 
the private sector, as follows:
            (1) Two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
        Senate.
            (2) Two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) Two shall be appointed by the President.
            (4) One shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
        Senate.
            (5) One shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (6) A chairperson shall be appointed in accordance with 
        subsection (b).
    (b) Chairperson.--
            (1) Selection.--Within 7 days after all the members 
        described in section 3(a) (1) through (5) are appointed, those 
        members shall meet and by majority vote select a chairperson.
            (2) Failure to make selection.--If, by the date that is 30 
        days after the date of the meeting described in subsection (b), 
        the office of chairperson is still vacant, all current members 
        of the Commission shall be discharged from further service as 
        members of the Commission.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission shall each be 
entitled to receive the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic 
pay in effect for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 
of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which the member is 
engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
    (e) Quorum.--Six members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, and any decision of the Commission shall require the 
affirmative vote of 6 members.
    (f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson or at the request of 6 members of the Commission.

SEC. 5. STAFF OF COMMISSION; SERVICES.

    Subject to such rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the 
chairperson, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and without 
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 
of that title relating to classifications and General Schedule pay 
rates, may appoint such staff personnel as the chairperson considers 
necessary and procure temporary and intermittent services to the same 
extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code.

SEC. 6. RECOMMENDATION; FAST TRACK PROCEDURES.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the convening of the 
105th Congress, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the study conducted under section 3.
    (b) Recommendations.--The report under subsection (a) may include 
any recommendations for changes in the laws (including regulations) 
governing the conduct of Federal campaigns, including any changes in 
the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives, to which 6 or 
more members of the Commission may agree.
    (c) Preparation of Bills.--If 7 or more members concur on 1 or more 
recommendations for changes in the way campaigns for Federal office are 
conducted, the members agreeing on each such recommendation shall 
prepare for each a bill that would implement the recommendation, and 
the implementing bill shall be submitted with the report under 
subsection (a).
    (d) Consideration by Congress.--Each implementing bill submitted 
with the report under subsection (a) shall be given expedited 
consideration under the same provisions and in the same way as an 
implementing bill for a trade agreement under section 151 of the Trade 
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2191).

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall cease to exist 30 days after submission of the 
report under section 6.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $750,000 to carry out this 
Act.