I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 99
To establish a temporary commission to recommend reforms in the laws
relating to elections for Federal office.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. WHITE (for himself and Mr. HORN) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on House Oversight, and in addition to
the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish a temporary commission to recommend reforms
in the laws relating to elections for Federal office.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bipartisan Commission
on Campaign Practices Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) for Congress to address the existing prob-
lems in the Federal election laws, Congress must act
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in a nonpartisan manner and engage in a debate
based on academic studies and empirical findings in-
stead of partisan rhetoric;
(2) when addressing Federal election laws, Con-
gress must be cognizant of the freedoms of speech
and association protected under the Constitution;
and
(3) the current Federal election laws unduly
favor incumbent Members of Congress, and, in pre-
vious years, Congress has not been able to eliminate
this bias when addressing the reform of the Federal
election laws.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
‘‘Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Practices’’ (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). The purposes
of the Commission are to study the laws relating to elec-
tions for Federal office and to report and recommend leg-
islation to reform those laws.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.
(a) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 12 members appointed within 15 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from
among individuals who are not incumbent Members of
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Congress and who are specially qualified to serve on the
Commission by reason of education, training, or experi-
ence. In making appointments, the President shall con-
sult—
(1) the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives with respect to the appointment of 3 members,
one of whom is not affiliated with either the Repub-
lican Party or the Democratic Party;
(2) the majority leader of the Senate with re-
spect to the appointment of 3 members, one of
whom is not affiliated with either the Republican
Party or the Democratic Party;
(3) the minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives with respect to the appointment of 2
members, one of whom is not affiliated with either
the Republican Party or the Democratic Party; and
(4) the minority leader of the Senate with re-
spect to the appointment of 2 members, one of
whom is not affiliated with either the Republican
Party or the Democratic Party.
(b) CHAIRMAN.—At the time of the appointment, the
President shall designate one member of the Commission
as Chairman of the Commission. The Chairman may not
be affiliated with either the Republican Party or the
Democratic Party.
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(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.
(e) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Not more than 4
members of the Commission may be of the same political
party.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may, for the pur-
pose 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.—Seven members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings. A majority of the full Commission is required
when approving all or a portion of the recommended legis-
lation. 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. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) PAY AND TRAVEL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS.—(1)
Each member of the Commission, other than the Chair-
man, shall be paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent
of the annual rate of basic pay payable for level IV