COMMITTEES.
Standing committees, as of privileges and elections, &c., are usually
appointed at the first meeting, to continue through the session. The
person first named is generally permitted to act as chairman. But this
is a matter of courtesy; every committee having a right to elect their
own chairman, who presides over them, puts questions, and reports their
proceedings to the House.--4 _Inst._ 11, 12; _Scob._ 7; 1 _Grey_, 112.
At these committees the members are to speak standing, and not sitting,
though there is reason to conjecture it was formerly otherwise.--_D'Ewes_,
630, _col._ 1; 4 _Parl. Hist._ 440; 2 _Hats._ 77.
Their proceedings are not to be published, as they are of no force till
confirmed by the House.--_Rushw. part_ 3, _vol._ 2, 74; 3 _Grey_, 401;
_Scob._ 39. Nor can they receive a petition but through the House.--9
_Grey_, 412.
When a committee is charged with an inquiry, if a member prove to be
involved, they cannot proceed against him, but must make a special report
to the House; whereupon the member is heard in his place, or at the bar,
or a special authority is given to the committee to inquire concerning
him.--9 _Grey_, 523.
So soon as the House sits, and a committee is notified of it, the chairman
is in duty bound to rise instantly, and the members to attend the service
of the House.--2 _Nals._ 19.
It appears, that on joint committee of the Lords and Commons, each
committee acted integrally in the following instances;--7 _Grey_, 261,
278, 286, 338; 1 _Chandler_, 357, 462. In the following instances it
does not appear whether they did or not:--6 _Grey_, 129; 7 _Grey_, 213,
229, 321.