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vention delegates. The Committee on Public Information publicized the work of the
convention and planned for post-convention activities to inform voters about the
proposed constitution. After the convention a Committee on Constitutional Infor-
mation Series was formed for the purpose of preparing and distributing information
about the constitution.
For the efficient conduct of business the convention employed a secretary, chief
clerk, chief of staff, parliamentarian, research staff, historian, public information
director, and other clerks, stenographers, and employees as needed.
The secretary was the chief administrative officer of the convention. He served
under the direct authority and supervision of the president relieving that official of
administrative details including employment and assignment of personnel, supervi-
sion of payroll, registration of lobbyists or any special interest groups, procurement
of supplies and services, maintenance of budget and accounts, and certification with
the president of the constitution adopted by the convention. The secretary also
directed the post-convention activity of the continuing staff. The chief of staff of the
convention directed the work of the central research staff and coordinated the
research and writing efforts of the committee staff assistants and advisors. He was
responsible for general reference service to delegates and the general public on sub-
stantive matters involving the work of the Constitutional Convention Commission
and of the Constitutional Convention. The chief clerk was the principal office of
record for the convention in that it registered, controlled, filed, processed, and dis-
tributed documents and recorded all official deliberative actions of the convention
and Committee of the Whole.
The parliamentarian was the adviser and counsel to the presiding officer of the
convention on all matters of parliamentary procedure. The historian was charged
with the collection and preservation of proceedings of the convention and its com-
mittees.
The information service was established to disseminate information to the gen-
eral public and special interest groups not handled directly by a substantive commit-
tee. Its staff conducted tours, showed convention films, controlled gallery seating,
maintained schedules of meetings and hearings, clipped newspapers, circulated press
stories and convention articles among the delegates and staff, operated a code-a-
phone service, conducted correspondence, distributed informational pamphlets,
drafted feature articles, and generally promoted the work of the convention.
Any suggestion or proposition intended to become a part of the revised consti-
tution was called a delegate proposal or a committee recommendation, the former
being introduced by a delegate and the latter being submitted by a committee.
Copies were delivered to the chief clerk who on convention order caused them to be
numbered, printed, and distributed to delegates as promptly as possible.
Explanatory memoranda accompanied delegate proposals as necessary. Each
committee recommendation was accompanied by an explanatory committee
memorandum. A minority report on a recommendation could be submitted and
when this was done the subject matter was reflected in amendments introduced in
the Committee of the Whole or subsequently during consideration by the convention
on second or third reading.
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