Art. IV. Committees and Informal Action.
[§§ 28–33.]
28. Committees. It is usual in deliberative assemblies, to have all preliminary work in the preparation of matter for their action done by means of committees. These may be either “standing committees” (which are appointed for the session [§ 42], or for some definite time, as one year); or “select committees,” appointed for a special purpose; or a “committee of the whole” [§ 32], consisting of the entire assembly. [For method of appointing committees of the whole, see § 32; other committees, see Commit, § 22.] The first person named on a committee is chairman (in his absence the next named member becomes chairman, and so on), and should act as such, unless the committee, by a majority of their number, elect another chairman, which they are competent to do. The clerk should furnish him, or some other member of the committee, with notice of the appointment of the committee, giving the names of the members, the matter referred to them, and
