How to be an effective committee chair.

• Author: O'Donnell, Bob

The legislative committees are where the basis work of the legislature gets done - or not done. The performance of the committee chair is crucial to the product.

Despite significant differences in legislative organization among the states, the committees are the arenas for critical decisions. They control how individual bills are crafted, amended and moved to the larger legislative realm, the floor of the chamber, for a vote by the body.

Committees act as "mini legislatures" with the chair acting as speaker. Contending views are aired, and compromise is facilitated. In those states where the committee has significant discretion, bills are screened and amended. When this is done competently, the legislature as a whole comes to rely on committee work, and the calendar becomes thoroughly manageable. The division of work among the committees also encourages specialization and development of expertise. Members, each with his or her legislative priorities, set the tone and define a culture that is unique to each committee.

Individuals may gain prominence and prestige chairing a committee, depending on the caliber of their product and the consistency and accuracy of substantive content. The committee system broadens the distribution of influence and acts as a healthy, democratizing force. (Of course, this can also act in reverse. If a committee doesn't function, members and leadership may circumvent it, or distance themselves from its legislative product.)

The success of a committee rests squarely with the chair. There are many different paths to that success, and they are not mutually exclusive. For example, there is a natural tension created between the needs to include testimony from numerous viewpoints and to keep the committee on schedule and report bills to the floor. The diplomatic skills of a chair and how he or she handles negotiations and political maneuvering, contribute significantly to the reputation of the chair and the committee.

Five key principles guide the best committee chairs. These principles often are in conflict with each other. Successful committee chairs are able to manage the conflicts and produce legislation that is substantively and technically sound.

TAKE CONTROL

To be successful, a chairperson needs a firm hand. Be clear and decisive about your authority and set expectations about what you want to accomplish. Control is more often a function of proficient management than raw power. Management means effectively using available resources. The time and expertise of the staff and the members must be organized and directed. Their respective roles must be defined. Staff can be used to fill gaps in your own knowledge, but it is essential that you acquire significant expertise in your committee's subject areas.

The political part of the task should come most easily to an experienced legislator who becomes a chairman. Frequent communication with staff, lobbyists, members and leaders will create a support base and will prevent any surprises at the meetings. This is how you find out who supports and who opposes a given bill and whether it is likely to become a vehicle for other matters.

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