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The House Committee on Un-American Activities is a standing committee of the House of Representatives, constituted as such by the rules of the House, adopted pursuant to Article I, section 5, of the Constitution of the United States which authorizes the House to determine the rules of its proceedings.

RULES ADOPTED BY THE 90TH CONGRESS

House Resolution 7, January 10, 1967

RESOLUTION

Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-ninth Congress, together with all applicable provisions of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended, be, and they are hereby, adopted as the Rules of the House of Representatives of the Ninetieth Congress

RULE X

STANDING COMMITTEES

1. There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Congress,

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(r) Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine Members.

RULE XI

POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES

18. Committee on Un-American Activities.

(a) Un-American activities.

(b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee is authorized to make from time to time investigations of (1) the extent, character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propaganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation.

The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investigation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable.

For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member.

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27. To assist the House in appraising the administration of the laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as it may deem necessary, each standing committee of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such committee; and, for that purpose, shall study all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the agencies in the executive branch of the Government.

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HEARINGS RELATING TO H.R. 15626, H.R. 15649, H.R. 16613, H.R. 16757, H.R. 15018, H.R. 15092, H.R. 15229, H.R. 15272, H.R. 15336, AND H.R. 15828, AMENDING THE SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES CONTROL ACT OF 1950 Part 1

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1968

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES,

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Washington, D.C.

A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 10:10 a.m., in Room 311, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Hon. Edward E. Willis (chairman) presiding.

(Subcommittee members: Representatives Edwin E. Willis, of Louisiana, chairman; William M. Tuck, of Virginia; John C. Culver, of Iowa; John M. Ashbrook, of Ohio; and Albert W. Watson, of South Carolina.)

Subcommittee members present: Representatives Willis, Culver, and Ashbrook.

Staff members present: Chester D. Smith, general counsel, and Alfred M. Nittle, counsel.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.

We meet today to receive the views of Members of Congress, representatives of the executive branch of the Government, and other interested persons and organizations with respect to a number of related bills which would amend the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950. These bills include H.R. 15626 and bills identical to it, H.R. 15649, H.R. 16613, and H.R. 16757; H.R. 15018 and bills identical to it, H.R. 15092, H.R. 15229, and H.R. 15272; H.R. 15336; and sections 203 and 204 of H.R. 15828. These bills have been sponsored by 45 members of the House of Representatives.

All of these bills include provisions designed to remedy a Supreme Court decision of December 11, 1967, in the case of United States v. Eugene Frank Robel, which voided section 5(a)(1) (D) of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950.

That section of the act made it unlawful for any member of a "Communist-action organization," with knowledge or notice that such organization is registered or that there is in effect a final order of the Subversive Activities Control Board requiring such organization to register, "to engage in any employment in any defense facility."

The Court held the section void for "overbreadth" and hence unconstitutionally abridging the "right of association" protected by the first amendment.

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