How do search committees work? - part 1: reading candidate files

Now that we're in the midst of the academic job season (a horrific one, I know), I thought it might be helpful to current and future job-candidates to try running a series soliciting from search-committee members an inside view on how their deliberations work. For example, how do search committee members read applications? What do they look for in interviews? How do search committees deliberate in meetings in deciding who to interview? How do they deliberate in deciding who to invite to campus? Whom to hire? I'd like to begin today by asking search committee members to share how they read applications. Here are some questions to consider:

1. Do you read applications before the deadline?
2. If so, do you think it matters whether candidates apply early?
3. In what order do you read documents? Why?
4. What do you look for in different parts of the application (e.g. the CV, research statement, teaching dossier, diversity statements, etc.)?
5. How large of a role do recommendation letters play?
6. Etc.

Any search committee members out there willing to weigh in?