[Page S1536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

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RULES OF PROCEDURE

Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the Committee on the Judiciary has
adopted rules governing its procedures for the 115th Congress. Pursuant
to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask
unanimous consent that a copy of the Committee rules be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE
JUDICIARY--115TH CONGRESS

I. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

1. Meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chairman
as he may deem necessary on three days' notice of the date,
time, place and subject matter of the meeting, or in the
alternative with the consent of the Ranking Minority Member,
or pursuant to the provision of the Standing Rules of the
Senate, as amended.
2. Unless a different date and time are set by the Chairman
pursuant to (1) of this section, Committee meetings shall be
held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays the Senate is in
session, which shall be the regular meeting day for the
transaction of business.
3. At the request of any member, or by action of the
Chairman, a bill, matter, or nomination on the agenda of the
Committee may be held over until the next meeting of the
Committee or for one week, whichever occurs later.

II. HEARINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

1. The Committee shall provide a public announcement of the
date, time, place and subject matter of any hearing to be
conducted by the Committee or any Subcommittee at least seven
calendar days prior to the commencement of that hearing,
unless the Chairman with the consent of the Ranking Minority
Member determines that good cause exists to begin such
hearing at an earlier date. Witnesses shall provide a written
statement of their testimony and curriculum vitae to the
Committee at least 24 hours preceding the hearings in as many
copies as the Chairman of the Committee or Subcommittee
prescribes.
2. In the event 14 calendar days' notice of a hearing has
been made, witnesses appearing before the Committee,
including any witness representing a Government agency, must
file with the Committee at least 48 hours preceding
appearance written statements of their testimony and
curriculum vitae in as many copies as the Chairman of the
Committee or Subcommittee prescribes.
3. In the event a witness fails timely to file the written
statement in accordance with this rule, the Chairman may
permit the witness to testify, or deny the witness the
privilege of testifying before the Committee, or permit the
witness to testify in response to questions from Senators
without the benefit of giving an opening statement.

III. QUORUMS

1. Seven Members of the Committee, actually present, shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of discussing business.
Nine Members of the Committee, including at least two Members
of the minority, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of
transacting business. No bill, matter, or nomination shall be
ordered reported from the Committee, however, unless a
majority of the Committee is actually present at the time
such action is taken and a majority of those present support
the action taken.
2. For the purpose of taking down sworn testimony, a quorum
of the Committee and each Subcommittee thereof, now or
hereafter appointed, shall consist of one Senator.

IV. BRINGING A MATTER TO A VOTE

The Chairman shall entertain a non-debatable motion to
bring a matter before the Committee to a vote. If there is
objection to bring the matter to a vote without further
debate, a roll call vote of the Committee shall be taken, and
debate shall be terminated if the motion to bring the matter
to a vote without further debate passes with eleven votes in
the affirmative, one of which must be cast by the minority.

V. AMENDMENTS

1. Provided at least seven calendars days' notice of the
agenda is given, and the text of the proposed bill or
resolution has been made available at least seven calendar
days in advance, it shall not be in order for the Committee
to consider any amendment in the first degree proposed to any
measure under consideration by the Committee unless such
amendment has been delivered to the office of the Committee
and circulated via e-mail to each of the offices by at least
5:00 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled start of the
meeting.
2. It shall be in order, without prior notice, for a Member
to offer a motion to strike a single section of any bill,
resolution, or amendment under consideration.
3. The time limit imposed on the filing of amendments shall
apply to no more than three bills identified by the Chairman
and included on the Committee's legislative agenda.
4. This section of the rule may be waived by agreement of
the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member.

VI. PROXY VOTING

When a recorded vote is taken in the Committee on any bill,
resolution, amendment, or any other question, a quorum being
present, Members who are unable to attend the meeting may
submit votes by proxy, in writing or by telephone, or through
personal instructions. A proxy must be specific with respect
to the matters it addresses.

VII. SUBCOMMITTEES

1. Any Member of the Committee may sit with any
Subcommittee during its hearings or any 1) other meeting, but
shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the
Subcommittee unless a Member of such Subcommittee.
2. Subcommittees shall be considered de novo whenever there
is a change in the Subcommittee chairmanship and seniority on
the particular Subcommittee shall not necessarily apply.
3. Except for matters retained at the full Committee,
matters shall be referred to the appropriate Subcommittee or
Subcommittees by the Chairman, except as agreed by a majority
vote of the Committee or by the agreement of the Chairman and
the Ranking Minority Member.
4. Provided all members of the Subcommittee consent, a bill
or other matter may be polled out of the Subcommittee. In
order to be polled out of a Subcommittee, a majority of the
members of the Subcommittee who vote must vote in favor of
reporting the bill or matter to the Committee.

VIII. ATTENDANCE RULES

1. Official attendance at all Committee business meetings
of the Committee shall be kept by the Committee Clerk.
Official attendance at all Subcommittee business meetings
shall be kept by the Subcommittee Clerk.
2. Official attendance at all hearings shall be kept,
provided that Senators are notified by the Committee Chairman
and Ranking Minority Member, in the case of Committee
hearings, and by the Subcommittee Chairman and Ranking
Minority Member, in the case of Subcommittee Hearings, 48
hours in advance of the hearing that attendance will be
taken; otherwise, no attendance will be taken. Attendance at
all hearings is encouraged.

IX. SUBPOENAS

The Chairman of the Committee, with the agreement of the
Ranking Member or by a vote of the Committee, may subpoena
the attendance of a witness at a Committee or Subcommittee
hearing or Committee deposition, or the production of
memoranda, documents, records, or any other materials. Any
such subpoena shall be issued upon the signature of the
Chairman or any other Member of the Committee designated by
the Chairman.

X. DEPOSITIONS

1. Any subpoena issued for a deposition that is to be
conducted by staff shall be accompanied by a notice of
deposition identifying the Majority staff officers designated
by the Chairman and the Minority staff officers designated by
the Ranking Member to take the deposition, and the Majority
and Minority shall be afforded the opportunity to participate
on equal terms.
2. Unless waived by agreement of the Chair and Ranking
Member, any deposition shall have at least one Member present
for the duration of the deposition. All Members shall be
notified of the date, time, and location of any deposition.
3. Any Member of the Committee may attend and participate
in the taking of any deposition.
4. A witness at a deposition shall be examined upon oath
administered by an individual authorized by law to administer
oaths, or administered by any Member of the Committee if one
is present.
5. Unless otherwise specified, the deposition shall be in
private.

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