I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 187
To establish a commission to make recommendations on the appropriate
size of membership of the House of Representatives and the method
by which Representatives are elected.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
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 Representatives
are elected.
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 2000 Com-
mission Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
‘‘Congress 2000 Commission’’ (hereinafter 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
Sixth 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 15 members, as follows:
(1) Two members appointed by the President.
(2) Ten members appointed by the House of
Representatives, in the manner prescribed by the
House of Representatives.
(3) Three members appointed by the Senate, in
the manner prescribed by the Senate.
(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 sec-
tions 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(e) QUORUM.—Eight members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(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. 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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