The committee existed in three different versions during the last 60 years, each with a set timetable and responsibilities.
Its mission was to study the operation of Congress and recommend improvements "with a view toward strengthening the Congress, simplifying its operations, improving its relationship with other branches of the United States Government, and enabling it better to meet its responsibilities under the Constitution.
"[2] The committee held hearings over a period of 5 months, taking testimony from 199 witnesses, including 106 members of Congress.
[2] The last and most recent version of this committee attempted further reforms, some of which were adopted by Congress when Republicans gained control of the House and Senate after the 1994 congressional elections.
L. 104–1 (text) (PDF)), which applied provisions of 11 major labor laws to Congress and its employees for the first time.