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Committee On Ethics, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Committee On Ethics is a standing committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Per the General Operating Rules of the House, memberships of the Pennsylvania House committees are recommended to the Speaker of the House by the House Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees is made up of the Speaker and 15 members of the House, ten majority party members and five minority party members.[1]
The Speaker appoints a chair, vice chair, and secretary for the Committee on Ethics. The chair must be a member of the majority party and the vice chair must be a member of the minority party. Only representatives with the most seniority in their respective caucuses may serve as chair or minority chair of a committee. Members of House majority and minority leadership may not serve as a chair or minority chair of any standing committee and no representative may serve as the chair or minority chair of more than one standing committee.[1] The Speaker, Majority Floor Leader, and Minority Floor Leader are ex-officio members of all standing committees, but have no voting rights and are not counted for the purpose of determining a quorum.[1]
At least fifty percent of the committee members must be present to establish a quorum.[1]
See rules: General Operating Rules of the House
Function
Rule 47 of the General Operating Rules of the House defines the function of the Committee on Ethics.
The Committee on Ethics conducts investigations, hearings, and meetings relating to a specific issue, member, officer, or employee of the House. The committee may investigate individuals on matters of conflicts of interest and misconduct in legislative duties. When a complaint has been made, the person involved with the complaint will be informed and the committee will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether a rule or law has been violated. After reviewing the evidence, the committee will determine whether grounds exist for a formal investigation or to dismiss the complaint. If the committee proceeds to a formal investigation, the accused will be informed and independent counsel will be provided. The committee may call for witnesses and issue subpoenas with the same force and effect as those issued by state courts. After the investigation, the committee may recommend punishment to the House if it determines that a violation occurred.[1]
In addition to its investigative authority, the committee is responsible for updating and distributing a Members' Handbook on Ethics for members and House employees. The committee may also issue advisory opinions in response to House member requests regarding legislative ethics or decorum. These opinions are confidential and apply exclusively to the member who made the request.[1]
Membership
2023-2024 legislative session
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Committee On Ethics, 2023-2024 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | Third-party members(0) |
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2021-2022 legislative session
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Committee On Ethics, 2021-2022 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | Third-party members(0) |
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2019-2020 legislative session
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Committee On Ethics, 2019-2020 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | Third-party members(0) |
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2017 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2017 legislative session.
| Committee On Ethics Members, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | |||
| • Dominic Costa, Minority chair | • Jim Cox, Chair | |||
| • Mary Jo Daley | • Sheryl Delozier | |||
| • Stephen Kinsey | • Brian Ellis | |||
| • Peter Schweyer | • Carl Metzgar | |||
2015 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2015 legislative session.
| Committee On Ethics Members, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | |||
| • Mark Longietti, Democratic Chair | • Scott Petri, Chair | |||
| • Madeleine Dean | • Sheryl Delozier | |||
| • Sid Michaels Kavulich | • Brian Ellis | |||
| • Michael O'Brien, Pennsylvania Representative | • Carl Metzgar | |||
2013-2014
| Committee on Ethics Members, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | |||
| • Nick Kotik, Democratic Vice Chair | • Scott Petri, Chair | |||
| • Madeleine Dean | • Sheryl Delozier | |||
| • Jaret Gibbons | • Brian Ellis | |||
| • Steven Santarsiero | • Carl Metzgar | |||
2011-2012
| Committee On Ethics Members, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | |||
| • Steve Samuelson, Democratic Chair | • Catherine Harper, Chair | |||
| • Eugene DePasquale | • Brian Ellis | |||
| • Steve Santarsiero | • Mario Scavello | |||
| • Jewell Williams | • Katherine Watson | |||
2009-2010
| Committee on Ethics Members, 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (4) | Republican members (4) | |||
| • Kathy Manderino, Chair | • Catherine Harper, Republican Vice Chair | |||
| • Jewell Williams, Secretary | • Brian Ellis | |||
| • Robert Donatucci | • Mario Scavello | |||
| • Neal Goodman | • Katherine Watson | |||
External links
Footnotes
