Chairman

(1) Tlie presiding officer of a deliberative body, legislative or otherwise; e. g. the speaker of a house of assembly, or of the house of representatives, or the presiding member of a board of directors of a corporation oT association. (2) The president or senior member of a committee. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE whole house. In the English house of commons, this officer, always a member, is elected by the house on the assembling of every new parliament. When the house is in committee on bills introduced by the government, or in committee of ways and means, or supply, or in committee to consider preliminary resolutions, it is his duty to preside. He sits, not in the speaker's chair, but at the table in the seat of the clerk of the house. On divisions, when the numbers happen to be equal, he gives the casting vote (q. v.), but in committees he never otherwise votes. In August, 1853, it was, by resolution of the house, decided that, during' the unavoidable absence of the speaker, this officer should preside in his stead, being only so appointed, however, from day to day.

See 18 & 19 Vict. c. 84.

In the house of lords the chairman of committees of the whole house is elected by the house every session. He usually holds in addition the office of deputy speaker of the house of lords. Dod. Pari. Comp. In American legislative assemblies, the practice is to select a member as presiding officer for the particular session of the committee on resolving to go into committee of the whole..