United States Congress Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress
Encyclopedia
The Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress is the name given to three separate temporary joint congressional committees
established during the mid to late 20th century to study and make recommendations on measures to improve the structure of the U.S. Congress
, including committees
, staff, and other organizational matters.
23, 78th Congress
. It held 39 public hearings between March 3 and June 29, 1945, as well as four executive sessions. Over 100 witnesses testified, including 45 members of Congress, and an additional 37 members submitted statements. The recommendations of the committee led to streamlining of congressional committees and adoption of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
2, 89th United States Congress. Its mission was to study the operation of Congress and recommend improvements "with a view toward strengthening the Congress, simplifying its operations, improving its relationship with other branches of the United States Government, and enabling it better to meet its responsibilities under the Constitution."
The committee held hearings over a period of 5 months, taking testimony from 199 witnesses, including 106 members of Congress. The committee issued its final report (S. Rept. 1414) on July 28, 1966. This work eventually led to the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970
.
gained control of the House
and Senate
after the 1994 Congressional elections. Key among these was the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995
, which applied provisions of 11 major labor laws to Congress and its employees for the first time.
, October 15, 2003
Joint committee
A Joint Committee is a term in politics that is used to refer to a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature. In other contexts, it refers to a committee with members from more than one organization.-Republic of Ireland:...
established during the mid to late 20th century to study and make recommendations on measures to improve the structure of the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, including committees
United States Congressional committee
A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty . Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction...
, staff, and other organizational matters.
History
The committee existed in three different versions during the last 60 years, each with a set timetable and responsibilities.1945-1947
The committee was established by S. Con. Res.Concurrent resolution
A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive.-United States Congress:...
23, 78th Congress
78th United States Congress
The Seventy-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1945, during the last two years...
. It held 39 public hearings between March 3 and June 29, 1945, as well as four executive sessions. Over 100 witnesses testified, including 45 members of Congress, and an additional 37 members submitted statements. The recommendations of the committee led to streamlining of congressional committees and adoption of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
1965-1966
The committee was established on March 11, 1965 by S. Con. Res.Concurrent resolution
A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive.-United States Congress:...
2, 89th United States Congress. Its mission was to study the operation of Congress and recommend improvements "with a view toward strengthening the Congress, simplifying its operations, improving its relationship with other branches of the United States Government, and enabling it better to meet its responsibilities under the Constitution."
The committee held hearings over a period of 5 months, taking testimony from 199 witnesses, including 106 members of Congress. The committee issued its final report (S. Rept. 1414) on July 28, 1966. This work eventually led to the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970
The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 was an act of the United States Congress to "improve the operation of the legislative branch of the Federal Government, and for other purposes"...
.
1991-1994
The last and most recent version of this committee attempted further reforms, some of which were adopted by Congress when RepublicansRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gained control of the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
after the 1994 Congressional elections. Key among these was the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995
The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 , one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the 104th United States Congress, applied several civil rights, labor, and workplace safety and health laws to the U.S...
, which applied provisions of 11 major labor laws to Congress and its employees for the first time.
Sources
Reorganization of the Senate: Modern Reform Efforts, Congressional Research ServiceCongressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service , known as "Congress's think tank", is the public policy research arm of the United States Congress. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS works exclusively and directly for Members of Congress, their Committees and staff on a...
, October 15, 2003