The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, also called the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for contested elections. The committee is not as powerful as its House counterpart, the House Committee on Rules, as it does not set the terms of debate for individual legislative proposals, since the Senate has a tradition of open debate. Some members of the committee are also ex officio members of the Joint Committee on the Library and the Joint Committee on Printing. History The Committee was first created as the Select Committee to Revise the Rules of the Senate on December 3, 1867. On December 9, 1874, it became a standing committee. On January 2, 1947, its name was changed to the Committee on Rules and Administration, and it took over the functions of the following committees: Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate Committee on Education and Labor (functions were later transferred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee) Committee on Enrolled Bills Committee on Privileges and Elections Jurisdiction In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating primarily to the following subjects is referred to the Senate Rules Committee: Administration of the Senate Office Buildings and the Senate wing of the Capitol, including the assignment of office space; Congressional organization relative to rules and procedures, and Senate rules and regulations, including floor and gallery rules; Corrupt practices; Credentials and qualifications of Members of the Senate, contested elections, and acceptance of incompatible offices; Federal elections generally, including the election of the President, Vice President, and Members of the Congress; Nominations to fill a vacancy in the Vice Presidency; Government Printing Office, and the printing and correction of the Congressional Record, as well as those matters provided for under rule XI; Meetings of the Congress and attendance of Members; Payment of money out of the contingent fund of the Senate or creating a charge upon the same (except that any resolution relating to substantive matter within the jurisdiction of any other standing committee of the Senate shall be first referred to such committee); Presidential succession; Purchase of books and manuscripts and erection of monuments to the memory of individuals; Senate Library and statuary,