RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY RULE I--MEETINGS 1.4 Called Meeting.--If three members of the committee have made a request in writing to the Chairman to call a meeting of the committee, and the Chairman fails to call such a meeting within 7 calendar days thereafter, including the day on which the written notice is submitted, a majority of the members may call a meeting by filing a written notice with the clerk of the committee who shall promptly notify each member of the committee in writing of the date and time of the meeting. 1.5 Adjournment of Meetings.--The Chairman of the committee or a subcommittee shall be empowered to adjourn any meeting of the committee or a subcommittee if a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time scheduled for such meeting. RULE 2--MEETINGS AND HEARINGS IN GENERAL 2.1 Open Sessions.--Business meetings and hearings held by the committee or any subcommittee shall be open to the public except as otherwise provided for in Senate Rule XXVI, paragraph 5. 2.2 Transcripts.--A transcript shall be kept of each business meeting and hearing of the committee or any subcommittee unless a majority of the committee or the subcommittee agrees that some other form of permanent record is preferable. 2.3 Reports.--An appropriate opportunity shall be given the Minority to examine the proposed text of committee reports prior to their filing or publication. In the event there are supplemental, minority, or additional views, an appropriate opportunity shall be given the Majority to examine the proposed text prior to filing or publication. 2.4 Attendance.--(a) Meetings. Official attendance of all markups
and executive sessions of the committee shall be kept by the
committee clerk. Official attendance of all subcommittee markups
and executive sessions shall be kept by the subcommittee clerk. RULE 3 -- HEARING PROCEDURES 3.1 Notice.--Public notice shall be given of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing to be held by the committee or any subcommittee at least 1 week in advance of such hearing unless the Chairman of the full committee or the subcommittee determines that the hearing is noncontroversial or that special circumstances require expedited procedures and a majority of the committee or the subcommittee involved concurs. In no case shall a hearing be conducted with less than 24 hours notice. 3.2 Witness Statements.--Each witness who is to appear before the committee or any subcommittee shall file with the committee or subcommittee, at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing, a written statement of his or her testimony and as many copies as the Chairman of the committee or subcommittee prescribes. 3.3 Minority Witnesses.--In any hearing conducted by the committee, or any subcommittee thereof, the minority members of the committee or subcommittee shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by the ranking minority member of the committee or subcommittee to call witnesses of their selection during at least 1 day of such hearing pertaining to the matter or matters heard by the committee or subcommittee. 3.4 Swearing in of Witnesses.--Witnesses in committee or subcommittee hearings may be required to give testimony under oath whenever the Chairman or ranking minority member of the committee or subcommittee deems such to be necessary. 3.5 Limitation.--Each member shall be limited to 5 minutes in the questioning of any witness until such time as all members who so desire have had an opportunity to question a witness. Questions from members shall rotate from majority to minority members in order of seniority or in order of arrival at the hearing. RULE 4--NOMINATIONS 4.1 Assignment.--All nominations shall be considered by the full committee. 4.2 Standards.--In considering a nomination, the committee shall inquire into the nominee's experience, qualifications, suitability, and integrity to serve in the position to which he or she has been nominated. 4.3 Information.--Each nominee shall submit in response to
questions prepared by the committee the following information: 4.4 Hearings.--The committee shall conduct a public hearing
during which the nominee shall be called to testify under oath
on all matters relating to his or her suitability for office.
No hearing shall be held until at least 48 hours after the nominee
has responded to a prehearing questionnaire 4.5 Action on Confirmation.--A business meeting to consider a nomination shall not occur on the same day that the hearing on the nominee is held. The Chairman, with the agreement of the ranking minority member, may waive this requirement. RULE 5--QUORUMS 5.1 Testimony--For the purpose of receiving evidence, the swearing
of witnesses, and the taking of sworn or unsworn testimony at
any duly scheduled hearing, 5.2 Business.--A quorum for the transaction of committee or subcommittee business, other than for reporting a measure or recommendation to the Senate or the taking of testimony, shall consist of one-third of the members of the committee or subcommittee, including at least one member from each party. 5.3 Reporting.--A majority of the membership of the committee shall constitute a quorum for reporting bills, nominations, matters, or recommendations to the Senate. No measure or recommendation shall be ordered reported from the committee unless a majority of the committee members are physically present. The vote of the committee to report a measure or matter shall require the concurrence of a majority of those members who are physically present at the time the vote is taken. RULE 6--VOTING 6.1 Rollcalls.--A roll call vote of the members shall be taken upon the request of any member. 6.2 Proxies.--Voting by proxy as authorized by the Senate rules for specific bills or subjects shall be allowed whenever a quorum of the committee is actually present. 6.3 Polling.--The committee may poll any matters of committee
business, other than a vote on reporting to the Senate any measures,
matters or recommendations or a vote on closing a meeting or
hearing to the public, provided that every member is polled
and every poll consists of the following two questions: RULE 7--SUBCOMMITTEES 7.1 Assignments.--To assure the equitable assignment of members to subcommittees, no member of the committee will receive assignment to a second subcommittee until, in order of seniority, all members of the committee have chosen assignments to one subcommittee, and no member shall receive assignment to a third subcommittee until, in order of seniority, all members have chosen assignments to two subcommittees. 7.2 Attendance.--Any member of the committee may sit with any subcommittee during a hearing or meeting but shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the subcommittee unless he or she is a member of such subcommittee. 7.3 Ex Officio Members.--The Chairman and ranking minority member shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the subcommittees on which they do not serve as voting members. The Chairman and ranking minority member may not be counted toward a quorum. 7.4 Scheduling.--No subcommittee may schedule a meeting or hearing at a time designated for a hearing or meeting of the full committee. No more than one subcommittee business meeting may be held at the same time. 7.5 Discharge.--Should a subcommittee fail to report back to the full committee on any measure within a reasonable time, the Chairman may withdraw the measure from such subcommittee and report that fact to the full committee for further disposition. The full committee may at any time, by majority vote of those members present, discharge a subcommittee from further consideration of a specific piece of legislation. 7.6 Application of Committee Rules to Subcommittees.--The proceedings
of each subcommittee shall be governed by the rules of the full
committee, subject to such authorizations RULE 8--INVESTIGATIONS, SUBPOENAS AND DEPOSITIONS 8.1 Investigations.--Any investigation undertaken by the committee
or a subcommittee in which depositions are taken or subpoenas
issued, must be authorized by a majority of the members of the
committee voting for approval to conduct such investigation
at a business meeting of the committee convened in accordance
with Rule 1. RULE 9--AMENDING THE RULES |