Select Commission to Advise on Reforming Elections Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Section Commission to Advise on 
Reforming Elections Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SELECT COMMISSION TO ADVISE ON REFORMING 
              ELECTIONS.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Select 
Commission to Advise on Reforming Elections'' (referred to in this Act 
as the ``Commission''). The purposes of the Commission are to study the 
laws relating to the financing of campaigns for elections for Federal 
office and to report and recommend legislation to reform those laws.

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members 
appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act by the President, of whom--
            (1) Three members shall be appointed from among a list of 
        nominees submitted by the majority leader of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (2) Three members shall be appointed from among a list of 
        nominees submitted by the majority leader of the Senate;
            (3) Two members shall be appointed from among a list of 
        nominees submitted by the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (4) Two members shall be appointed from among a list of 
        nominees submitted by the minority leader of the Senate; and
            (5) Two members shall be appointed from individuals meeting 
        such criteria as the President may apply.
    (b) Chair.--The members of the Commission shall select two members 
to serve as co-chairs of the Commission.
    (c) Terms.--The members of the Commission shall serve for the life 
of the Commission.
    (d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.

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.
    (b) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Pay and Travel Expenses of Members.--(1) Each member of the 
Commission, other than the co-chairs, 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. Each co-chair shall be paid for each day referred to in the 
preceding sentence at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
annual rate of basic pay payable for level III of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code.
    (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.--Subject to such rules as may be adopted by 
        the Commission, the staff director of the Commission, 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, and subject to the approval of the 
Commission, may appoint such personnel as the staff director considers 
necessary, 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) Temporary and intermittent services.--Subject to the 
        approval of the Commission, the staff director of the 
        Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services to 
        the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, 
        United States Code.

SEC. 6. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES IN LAW.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the appointment of its 
members, 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 for Changes in Campaign Finance Laws.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), 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 any recommendations for changes in the 
        laws (including regulations) governing the conducting and 
        financing of Federal campaigns (including any changes in the 
        rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives) to which 
        seven or more members of the Commission may agree--
                    (A) by including such recommendations in the report 
                submitted under subsection (a); or
                    (B) with the approval of a majority of its members, 
                by submitting a supplemental report containing such 
                recommendations not later than 180 days after 
                submitting the report under subsection (a).
            (2) Final deadline.--The Commission may not submit 
        recommendations under this subsection after July 15, 1998.
    (c) Dissenting Views.--The Commission shall include in the report 
submitted under subsection (a) and in any recommendations submitted 
under subsection (b) any dissenting or minority views of its members, 
including recommendations for changes in law which were proposed by any 
member and to which seven or more members did not agree.

SEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION 
              IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) Preparation of Legislation.--If the Commission submits any 
recommendation for changes in the laws under section 6(b), those 
members concurring in the recommendation shall include with the 
recommendation legislation to implement the recommendation.
    (b) Expedited Congressional Consideration of Legislation.--
            (1) In general.--If any legislation is introduced the 
        substance of which implements a recommendation of the 
        Commission submitted under section 6(b), subject to paragraph 
        (2), 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.
            (2) Special rules.--For purposes of applying paragraph (1) 
        with respect to such provisions, the following rules shall 
        apply:
                    (A) 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.
                    (B) 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).

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after the later of--
            (1) the date of the submission of its report under section 
        6(a); or
            (2) the date of the submission of its recommendations under 
        section 6(b).

Summary: Select Commission to Advise on Reforming Elections Act - Establishes the Select Commission to Advise on Reforming Elections to study the laws relating to the financing of campaigns for Federal elections and to report and recommend legislation to reform those laws. Requires the Commission to submit a report to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate on its activities. Directs the Commission, as specified, to submit to the President, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, any recommendations for changes in campaign finance laws to which seven or more Commission members may agree. Prohibits the submission of recommendations by the Commission after July 15, 1998. Requires that when the Commission submits any recommendation for changes in campaign finance laws, those Commission members concurring in the recommendation shall include legislation to implement the recommendation. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of any legislation introduced which implements a recommendation of the Commission. Terminates the Commission after the later of: (1) the submission of its report, or (2) the submission of its recommendations.