I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 57
To establish a commission to study and make recommendations with respect
to the Federal electoral process.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 3, 2001
Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself, Mr. LEACH, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr.
FROST, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. OLVER, Mr. CLEMENT, Ms. RIVERS, Mr.
SANDERS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. LEE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr.
WU, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. UDALL of
Colorado, Mr. BALDACCI, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. FILNER,
Mr. SERRANO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FARR of California, Ms. HOOLEY of Or-
egon, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. ISAKSON, and Mr. GILLMOR) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administra-
tion
A BILL
To establish a commission to study and make recommenda-
tions with respect to the Federal electoral process.
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 ‘‘Federal Elections Re-
view Commission Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION; MEMBERSHIP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the Federal Elections Review
Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
‘‘Commission’’).
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission shall
be to study the nature and consequences of the Federal
electoral process and make recommendations to ensure the
integrity of, and public confidence in, Federal elections.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 12 members, who shall be appointed as follows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate based on rec-
ommendations by the majority leader of the Senate.
(2) Three members shall be appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate based on rec-
ommendations of the minority leader of the Senate.
(3) Three members shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4) Three members shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(d) QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.—Members shall
be appointed to the Commission from among individuals
who—
(1) have expertise in Federal election laws, the
United States Constitution, and the history of the
United States, or other pertinent qualifications or
experience; and
(2) are not officers or employees of the United
States.
(e) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing mem-
bers of the Commission, every effort shall be made to en-
sure that the members—
(1) represent a broad cross section of regional
and political perspectives in the United States; and
(2) provide fresh insights to analyzing the Fed-
eral electoral process in order to maintain the integ-
rity of, and public confidence in, such process.
(f) PERIOD
OF
APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—(1)
Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Ap-
pointments shall be for the life of the Commission.
(2) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect
the powers of the Commission, and shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.
(g) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after
the date on which all members of the Commission have
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing.
(h) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and
vice chairperson from among the members of the Commis-
sion.
(i) ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—The Commission shall
meet at the call of the chairperson.
(j) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.
(k) VOTING.—A vote of a member of the Commission
with respect to the duties of the Commission shall have
the same weight as the vote of any other member of the
Commission.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall examine
the nature and consequences of the Federal electoral proc-
ess and make recommendations to ensure the integrity of,
and public confidence in, Federal elections.
(b) SPECIFIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—The
Commission shall examine and report to the President, the
Congress, and the Federal Election Commission on, at a
minimum, the following:
(1) The historic rationale for the electoral col-
lege, its impact on Presidential elections, and the ad-
visability of its abolition or other options for reform,
including the possibility for proportional allocation of
electors within States.
(6) The feasibility and advisability of changing
to multiple day elections, weekend elections, expand-
ing early voting options, and limiting campaign ac-
tivities (including advertising and fundraising) to a
set period of time.
(7) The impact of winner-take-all voting, and
the feasibility and advisability of election reforms
such as instant runoff voting, proportional represen-
tation, and fusion balloting, with a particular em-
phasis on the impact on voter turnout and expand-
ing political dialog.
(8) The unique problems faced in voting by
members of the uniformed services, especially mem-
bers stationed overseas, and options for reform of
the voting process for such individuals.
(9) The presidential primary process and the
presidential debate process, and options for reform
of such processes.
(10) The costs of implementing various election
reform proposals and options for paying for such
proposals, including Federal cost-sharing.
(c) ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON CERTAIN ISSUES.—
With respect to each of the issues referred to in subsection
(b), in carrying out its examination and report the Com-
mission shall take into consideration—
(1) the speed, accuracy, and security of votes
and vote counts; and
(2) the impact on various demographic groups,
including racial minorities, individuals with disabil-
ities, residents of rural areas, and residents of urban
areas.
SEC. 4. FINAL REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President and the Con-
gress a final report including—
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion; and
(2) recommendations for addressing the prob-
lems identified as part of the Commission’s analysis.
(b) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations
as part of the final report.
SEC. 5. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this Act.
The Commission shall hold at least one hearing in the Dis-
trict of Columbia, and at least four hearings in other re-
gions of the United States.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission.
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use
the United States mails in the same manner and under
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis-
sion shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of
title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel
time) during which such member is engaged in the per-
formance of the duties of the Commission.
(b) STAFF.—(1) The chairperson of the Commission
may appoint staff of the Commission, request the detail
of Federal employees, and accept temporary and intermit-
tent services in accordance with section 3161 of title 5,
United States Code.
(2) The employment of an executive director of the
Commission shall be subject to the approval of the Com-
mission.
(3) The rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel of the Commission may not exceed the
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under
section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 7. SUPPORT SERVICES.
The Administrator of General Services shall provide
to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such adminis-
trative support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the
date that is 30 days after the date the Commission sub-
mits its final report under section 4.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for the Commission to carry out this Act.
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