When a vote is once passed in a committee, it cannot be altered but by the House, their votes being binding on themselves.--1607, June 4.
The committee may not erase, interline, or blot the bill itself; but must, in a paper by itself, set down the amendments, stating the words that are to be inserted or omitted, _Scob._ 50; and where, by reference to the page, line, and word of the bill.--_Scob._ 50.
The chairman of the committee, standing in his place, informs the House that the committee, to whom was referred such a bill, have, according to order, had the same under consideration, and have directed him to report the same without any amendment, or with sundry amendments, (as the case may be,) which he is ready to do when the House pleases to receive it. And he, or any other, may move that it be now received. But the cry of "now, now," from the House, generally dispenses with the formality of a motion and question. He then reads the amendments, with the coherence in the bill, and opens the alterations, and the reasons of the committee for such amendment, until he has gone through the whole. He then delivers it at the clerk's table, where the amendments reported are read by the clerk, without the coherence; whereupon the papers lie upon the table, till the House, at his convenience, shall take up the report.--_Scob._ 52; _Hakew._ 148.
The report being made, the committee is dissolved, and can act no more without a new power.--_Scob._ 51. But it may be revived by a vote, and the same matter recommitted to them.--4 _Grey_, 361.
After a bill has been committed and reported, it ought not, in an ordinary course, to be recommitted. But in cases of importance, and for special reasons, it is sometimes recommitted, and usually to the same committee. _Hakew._ 151. If a report be committed before agreed to in the House, what has passed in the committee is of no validity; the whole question is again before the committee, and a new resolution must be again moved, as if nothing had passed.--3 _Hats._ 131, note.
In Senate, January, 1800, the salvage bill was recommitted three times after the commitment.
A particular clause of a bill may be committed without the whole bill,--3 _Hats._ 131; or so much of a paper to one, and so much to another committee.