The Committee on Ethics, often known simply as the Ethics Committee, is one of the committees of the United States House of Representatives. Prior to the 112th Congress it was known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The House Ethics Committee has often received criticism. In response to criticism, the House created the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), an independent non-partisan entity established to monitor ethical conduct in the House. Members The committee has an equal number of members from each party, unlike the rest of the committees, which are constituted with the majority of members and the committee chair coming from the party that controls the House. This even split has limited its power by giving either political party an effective veto over the actions of the committee. Members may not serve more than three terms on the committee, unless they serve as chair in their fourth term. Members, 118th Congress Resolutions electing members: (D), (R), (Chair) Past committee rosters 117th Congress Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R), (R) 116th Congress Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (D) 115th Congress Sources: (R), , (D), (R) 114th Congress Sources: (R), , (D) 113th Congress Sources: (R), , (D) 112th Congress Source: Resolutions ( and ) electing members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives. Function The Ethics Committee has many functions, but they all revolve around the standards of ethical conduct for members of the House. Under this authority, it: Agrees on a set of rules that regulate what behavior is considered ethical for members (rules relating to gifts, travel, campaign activities, treatment of staff, conflicts of interest, etc. are typical) Conducts investigations into whether members have violated these standards Makes recommendations to the whole House on what action, if any, should be taken as a result of the investigations (e.g. censure, expulsion from the House, or nothing if the member is found not to be violating a rule) Provides advice to members before they (the members) take action, so as to avoid uncertainty over ethical culpability. History The committee has a long history; the first matter it handled was on January 30, 1798, when Rep. Matthew Lyon of Vermont was accused of "gross indecency" after he spat on Rep. Roger Griswold of Connecticut after an exchange of insults (a week later, another complaint was filed against Lyon, this time for "gross indecency of