COMMITTEES.
Standing committees, as of privileges and elections, etc., 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._, 9; 1 _Grey_, 122.
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Their proceedings are not to be published, as they are of no force till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._, 319.
It appears that on joint committees of the Lords and Commons, each
committee acted integrally in the following instances: 7 _Grey_, 261,
278, 285, 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.[39]