Senate Rules Affecting Committees

For the most part, the Senate’s rules allow each of its standing committees to decide for itself how to conduct its legislative business. Senate rules require that each committee adopt and publish its own written rules. In addition, the Senate imposes certain requirements and prohibitions on its committees; because the committees are agents of the Senate, they are obligated to comply with all Senate directives that apply to them. These directives govern such matters as scheduling meetings, open and closed meetings, quorum requirements, the use of proxies, voting requirements, reporting procedures, and the content of written committee reports.