Committee Reform in the House of Representatives and the Subcommittee Bill of Rights

Abstract

Prior to 1971 committee-related reforms in the House were primarily changes in the House rules, which had to be voted on by the full membership. After 1971 most committee reforms were in the form of resolutions passed by the Democratic Caucus. The post-1970 reforms dealt primarily with the selection of committee chairmen and the make-up and powers of subcommittees. The most recent of these reforms was the Subcommittee Bill of Rights which established the method of selection of subcommittee chairmen and members and defined powers and duties of subcommittees. One short run result of the reforms has been the strengthening of the liberals within the House. A possible long run consequence both of the use of the Democratic Caucus as a vehicle for reform and of the reforms, themselves, is the creation of a milieu in which the Democratic leadership can exert a substantially greater influence over outcomes within the House.