Establishing the Select Committee on Electoral Reform.

Bill Number

H.Res. 20

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Last Updated

2025-04-22T13:36:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution establishes a temporary Select Committee on Electoral Reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. The goal is to study current methods for electing members of Congress and explore alternative approaches to make Congress more responsive (better reflecting public views), accountable (easier to hold officials responsible), and functional (more effective in its work). It addresses low public approval of Congress by considering reforms like proportional representation (where seats match vote shares more closely) and ranked-choice voting (where voters rank candidates by preference).

Key Provisions

• Establishment and Composition: Creates a 14-member Select Committee. The Speaker of the House appoints 7 members after consulting the minority leader, who appoints the other 7. Each leader designates one co-chair. Vacancies are filled similarly.
• Duties:
• Review how U.S. citizens currently elect senators and House members.
• Investigate alternatives, including:
• Multi-member districts with proportional representation.
• Changing the fixed number of House seats (currently 435 since 1929).
• New voting methods like ranked-choice voting, cumulative voting (where voters can allocate multiple votes to candidates), and fusion voting (allowing candidates to run on multiple party tickets).
• Open or nonpartisan primaries (broader voter access to candidate selection).
• Independent commissions for drawing district boundaries to reduce partisan bias.
• Hold hearings with experts such as political scientists, current/former lawmakers, state/local officials who have tried these reforms, and representatives from countries using similar systems.
• Identify federal laws blocking state experiments, like the 1967 Uniform Congressional District Act (requiring single-member districts).
• Issue a final report with recommendations to Congress and the President within one year of the committee's first meeting.
• Operations:
• First meeting within 30 days of appointments; subsequent meetings called by co-chairs or majority vote.
• Quorum (minimum for official actions) is 12 members; fewer can hold hearings.
• Follows House rules for committees but with exceptions: no limits on member service terms, limited subpoena power (recommendations only), no legislative authority (cannot pass bills).
• Funding and Termination: Uses House staff and funding; ends 30 days after the final report.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution does not directly amend any laws. It creates a short-term investigative committee without legislative power, so it introduces no immediate legal changes. However, its report could recommend alterations to laws like the Uniform Congressional District Act (1967), which mandates single-member districts, or the Permanent Apportionment Act (1929), which caps House seats at 435.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The House of Representatives would allocate resources for the committee's work, potentially influencing future congressional rules or bills on elections. State election officials might face indirect effects if reforms are adopted, requiring changes to voting systems.
• On Citizens: Could lead to more representative elections, reducing "wasted" votes and gerrymandering (manipulating district lines for political gain), potentially increasing voter turnout and trust in government. No immediate changes, as this is advisory only.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though hearings with foreign officials could foster dialogue on democratic practices, without binding effects.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Members of Congress: Directly involved in appointments and hearings; reforms could alter how they are elected and represent districts.
• Voters and Citizens: Primary beneficiaries if reforms improve election fairness and representation.
• Political Parties and Candidates: Affected by potential shifts in voting methods, primaries, and districting, which could change competitive dynamics.
• State and Local Governments: Involved as witnesses; states might gain flexibility to experiment with reforms if federal barriers are removed.
• Experts and Advocacy Groups: Political scientists, reform organizations, and international observers provide input.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional: Draws on Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which allows Congress to regulate the "time, place, and manner" of federal elections, giving it authority to override state practices if needed. This could test balances between federal power and state rights in elections.
• Legal: Highlights potential conflicts with existing federal laws restricting state innovations, like single-member district requirements, which might be challenged or repealed based on the committee's findings.
• Political: Bipartisan structure (equal appointments and co-chairs) aims for balance, but recommendations could spark debates on electoral systems, influencing future legislation or campaigns. As a select committee, it has no enforcement power, so impacts depend on Congress's response to the report.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House
• 2025-01-07: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Establishing the Select Committee on Electoral Reform. — issued 2025-01-07 — PDF (6 pages)