[Both the English common parliamentary law and the rules of Congress
prohibit the reconsideration of a vote by a committee; but the strict
enforcement of this rule in ordinary committees, would interfere with
rather than assist the transaction of business. The rule given above
seems more just, and more in accordance with the practice of ordinary
committees, who usually reconsider at pleasure. No improper advantage
can be taken of the privilege, as long as every member who voted with
the majority must be present when the reconsideration is moved.] A
committee (except a committee

=== Page 57 ============================================================

of the whole, § 32] may appoint a sub-committee. When through with the
business assigned them, a motion is made for the committee to "rise"
(which is equivalent to the motion to adjourn), and that the chairman
(or some member who is more familiar with the subject) make its report
to the assembly. The committee ceases to exist as soon as the assembly
receives the report [§ 30].

The committee has no power to punish its members for disorderly conduct,
its resource being to report the facts to the assembly. No allusion can
be made in the assembly to what has occurred in committee, except it be
by a report of the committee, or by general consent. It is the duty of
a committee to meet on the call of any two its of members, if the
chairman be absent or decline to appoint such meeting. When a committee
adjourns without appointing a time for the next meeting, it is called
together in the same way as at its first meeting. When a committee
adjourns to meet at another time, it is not necessary (though

=== Page 58 ============================================================