I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1989
To establish a commission to make recommendations on the appropriate 
size of membership of the House of Representatives and the method 
by which Members are elected. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2005
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to make recommendations on the 
appropriate size of membership of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the method by which Members are elect-
ed.
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 ‘‘Congress 2008 Com-
mission Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Congress 2008 Commission’’ (hereafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall—
(1) analyze the current size of the membership 
of the House of Representatives considering the re-
quirement for the institution to carry out its respon-
sibilities in an effective manner under the challenges 
of the new century; 
(2) examine alternatives to the current method 
by which Representatives are elected (including cu-
mulative voting and proportional representation) to 
determine if such alternatives would make the House 
of Representatives a more representative body; 
(3) provide consideration to the continuing dis-
solution of adherence to the platforms and can-
didates of the Nation’s two major political parties as 
well as to the reduction in electoral participation by 
the citizenry; 
(4) consider whether alternative methods of 
electing House Members might include more citizens 
in the electoral process; 
(5) to the extent necessary, formulate proposals 
for changes in the size of the membership of, and
the method of electing Representatives to, the House 
of Representatives; and 
(6) not later than the end of the One Hundred 
Ninth Congress, submit to the President and the 
Congress a report of the work of the Commission, 
together with a draft of legislation (including tech-
nical and conforming provisions) to implement the 
proposals referred to in paragraph (5). 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 17 members as follows: 
(1) 3 members appointed by the President. 
(2) 10 members appointed by the House of 
Representatives, of whom 5 shall be appointed by 
the Speaker and 5 shall be appointed by the Minor-
ity Leader. 
(3) 4 members appointed by the Senate, of 
whom 2 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader 
and 2 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—In making appointments 
under this section, the appointing authorities shall make 
a special effort to appoint individuals who are particularly 
qualified to perform the functions of the Commission, by 
reason of either practical experience or academic expertise 
in politics or government.
(c) TERMS AND VACANCIES.—Each member shall be 
appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in 
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(d) PAY AND TRAVEL.—Each member of the Com-
mission, other than a full-time officer or employee of the 
United States—
(1) shall be paid the daily equivalent of the an-
nual rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Ex-
ecutive Schedule for each day (including travel time) 
during which the member is engaged in the actual 
performance of duties vested in the Commission; and 
(2) shall receive travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with appli-
cable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(e) QUORUM.—9 members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings. 
(f) CHAIRMAN.—The Chairman of the Commission 
shall be elected by the members. 
(g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairman or a majority of its members.
SEC. 5. STAFF. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—With the approval of the Commis-
sion, the Chairman may appoint and fix the pay of not 
more than six individuals for the staff of the Commission. 
Such individuals may be appointed without regard to the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service, and may be paid 
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classifica-
tion and General Schedule pay rates, except that an indi-
vidual 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. 
(b) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—With the ap-
proval of the Commission, the Chairman may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services in the manner prescribed 
in section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at 
rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent 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. 
(c) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 
or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 
to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act. 
SEC. 6. 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) MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any member or agent 
of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, 
take any action which the Commission is authorized to 
take by this section. 
(c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as departments and agencies of the United States. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen-
eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim-
bursable basis, the administrative support services nec-
essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall cease to exist on the last day 
of the month in which its report is submitted under section 
3.
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