TITLE 26 - US CODE - CHAPTER 91 - ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

26 USC 8001 - Authorization

There shall be a joint congressional committee known as the Joint Committee on Taxation (hereinafter in this subtitle referred to as the Joint Committee).

26 USC 8002 - Membership

(a) Number and selection
The Joint Committee shall be composed of 10 members as follows:

(1) From Committee on Finance
Five members who are members of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, three from the majority and two from the minority party, to be chosen by such Committee; and

(2) From Committee on Ways and Means
Five members who are members of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, three from the majority and two from the minority party, to be chosen by such Committee.

(b) Tenure of office

(1) General limitation
No person shall continue to serve as a member of the Joint Committee after he has ceased to be a member of the Committee by which he was chosen, except that

(2) Exception
The members chosen by the Committee on Ways and Means who have been reelected to the House of Representatives may continue to serve as members of the Joint Committee notwithstanding the expiration of the Congress.

(1) Effect
Shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the Joint Committee; and

(2) Manner of filling
Shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection, except that

(A) Adjournment or recess of Congress
In case of a vacancy during an adjournment or recess of Congress for a period of more than 2 weeks, the members of the Joint Committee who are members of the Committee entitled to fill such vacancy may designate a member of such Committee to serve until his successor is chosen by such Committee; and

(B) Expiration of Congress
In the case of a vacancy after the expiration of a Congress which would be filled by the Committee on Ways and Means, the members of such Committee who are continuing to serve as members of the Joint Committee may designate a person who, immediately prior to such expiration, was a member of such Committee and who is re-elected to the House of Representatives, to serve until his successor is chosen by such Committee.

(d) Allowances
The members shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Joint Committee, other than expenses in connection with meetings of the Joint Committee held in the District of Columbia during such times as the Congress is in session.

26 USC 8003 - Election of chairman and vice chairman

The Joint Committee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its members.

26 USC 8004 - Appointment and compensation of staff

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Joint Committee shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of the Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee and such experts and clerical, stenographic, and other assistants as it deems advisable.

26 USC 8005 - Payment of expenses

The expenses of the Joint Committee shall be paid one-half from the contingent fund of the Senate and one-half from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, upon vouchers signed by the chairman or the vice chairman.