COMMISSION, in common-law, the warrant or letters-patent which all persons exercising jurisdiction have to empower them to hear or determine any cause or suit: as, the commission of the judges, &c. COMMISSION of bankruptcy, is the commission that issues from the lord chancellor, on a person's becoming a bankrupt within any of the statutes, directed to certain commissioners appointed to examine into it, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the satisfaction of his creditors. COMMISSION of lunacy issues out of the court of chancery, to inquire whether a person represented to be a lunatic be so or not. COMMISSION, in commerce. See FACTORAGE. COMMISSIONER, a person authorised by commission, C O M letters-patent, or other lawful warrant, to examine any matters, or execute any public office, &c. Besides those relating to judicial proceedings, there are COMMISSIONERS of the customs. See CUSTOMS. COMMISSIONERS of excise. See EXCISE. COMMISSIONERS of the navy. See NAVY. Lords COMMISSIONERS of the treasury. See TREASURY and EXCHEQUER. COMMITTEE, one or more persons, to whom the consideration or ordering of a matter is referred, either by some court, or by the consent of parties, to whom it belongs. COMMITTEE of parliament, a certain number of members appointed by the house, for the examination of a bill, making a report of an inquiry, process of the house, &c. When a parliament is called, and the speaker and members have taken the oaths, there are committees appointed to sit on certain days, viz. the committee of privileges and elections, of religion, of trade, &c. which are standing committees. Sometimes the whole house resolves itself into a committee; on which occasion each person has a right to speak and reply as often as he pleases, which is not the case when a house is not in a committee. COMMIXTION, in Scots law, is a method of acquiring property, by mixing or blending together different substances belonging to different proprietors. If this commixtion was made without the consent of the different proprietors, and the materials cannot again be disjoined, it draws after it the property of the materials. See SCOTS LAW, title, Division of rights.