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Chairperson or Chair

Elected by their Chamber's majority party caucus, committee chairs usually are the most senior majority party member on the committee. The Chair sets the committee agenda and schedule in consultation with the majority members of the committee and the Chamber's party leadership. He or she runs (or "chairs") committee meetings, signs and files committee reports in the full Chamber, frequently acts as a reported bill's primary (floor manager) during floor debate, is responsible for the management of committee funds and staff, and often serves as a member of the conference committee on any bill over which the committee has jurisdiction.

Subcommittee chairs are elected by party caucus and have authority to set subcommittee agendas and schedules independent of the committee chair. The chair of a subcommittee that considered a particular bill is frequently appointed a conferee on that bill.

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