Congressional Committees Lesson

Congressional Committees

Lesson 4

Purpose of Committees

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Committees allow Congress to divide their work
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Smaller groups work on legislation that deals with different
topics

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Lawmakers become specialists on their topic over the years
on the committee

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Select which bills need consideration
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Most bills never get past the committee stage

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Hold public hearings and investigations, helps the public learn
about key problems.

Types of Committees

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There are four basic types of Committees:
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Standing committees

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Select committees

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Joint committees

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Conference committees

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Congress always has the right to change the method of
committee organization and number of committees.

Types of Committees (Continued)

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Standing Committee: a permanent committee in Congress
that oversees bills that deal with certain kinds of issues
◆

Continues from one legislative session to the next

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Majority party has the power to write the rules in Congress
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Controls the committees and selects chairpersons

●If 60% of the members of the House are Democrats,
then 60% of the members of each House standing
committee will be Democrats

●A 10 member committee would have 6 Democrats and
4 Republicans

Types of Committees (Continued)

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Nearly all standing committees have several subcommittees

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Subcommittee: a group within a standing committee that
specialized in a subcategory of its standing committees
responsibility
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Specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee’s
responsibility

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Continues from one legislative session to the next

Types of Committees (Continued)

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Select Committee: A temporary committee formed to study
one specific issue and report their findings to the Senate or
House
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Address matters of great public concern

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Lasts for no more than 1 term of Congress

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May be renewed and continue to meet for several terms of
Congress

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If select committee is renewed multiple times, it might
become a standing committee

Types of Committees (Continued)

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Joint Committees: a committee that consists of members
from both the House and Senate, formed to act as a study
group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic a
bill
◆

Made up of members from both the House and Senate

◆

Can be temporary or permanent

➔

Example: The Joint Economic Committee might report on the
economic impact of the war in Iraq or the income trends for
average Americans

Kinds of Committees (Continued)

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Conference Committee: a temporary joint committee set up
when the House and the Senate have passed different versions
of the same bill
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Resolve the differences between 2 versions of a bill

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Work a bill that both Houses will compromise

Choosing Committee Members

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Committee assignment is important because the
”right” committee placement can help a member’s
career
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Be able to influence national policies

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Members influence other members

Choosing Committee Members (Continued)

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Chairpersons are the most powerful people in Congress
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The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970

●Instituted a number of changes

●Made the committee system more democratic by
reducing the power of committee chairs

◆

1995

●Democratic trend furthered by prohibiting the
chair from casting an absent vote

●Required committees to publish all members’
votes

●Set 6 year terms

Introduced in 1973 after the
passage of the Legislative

Reorganization Act, the electronic
voting machine revolutionized the

congressional voting process.

Choosing Committee Members (Continued)

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Majority party member with the longest uninterrupted service
on a committee was appointed leader of that committee
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Seniority System: a system that gives the member of
the majority party with the longest uninterrupted
service on a particular committee the leadership of that
committee

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The seniority system was criticized for giving few
members of Congress too much power

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Chairs are elected through a secret ballot

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of Congressional Committees?

• To increase the number of bills passed

• To hold private hearings

• To divide the work of Congress into smaller groups

• To reduce the power of the majority party

Drag and Drop

Which type of committee is a permanent committee in Congress that oversees bills dealing with certain kinds of issues?

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Joint Committee

Conference Committee

Standing Committee

Select Committee

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a subcommittee within a standing committee?

• To oversee bills dealing with certain kinds of issues

• To specialize in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility

• To resolve differences between two versions of a bill

• To study one specific issue and report findings to the Senate or House

Multiple Choice

What is the function of a select committee?

• To study one specific issue and report findings to the Senate or House

• To act as a study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill

• To oversee bills dealing with certain kinds of issues

• To resolve differences between two versions of a bill

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a joint committee?

• To resolve differences between two versions of a bill

• To oversee bills dealing with certain kinds of issues

• To act as a study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill

• To specialize in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility

Multiple Choice

What is the function of a conference committee?

• To resolve differences between two versions of a bill

• To oversee bills dealing with certain kinds of issues

• To specialize in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility

• To act as a study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill

Multiple Choice

Why is committee assignment important for members of Congress?

• To hold private hearings

• To increase the number of bills passed

• To be able to influence national policies

• To reduce the power of the majority party

Multiple Choice

What is the Seniority System in Congress?

• A system that gives the youngest member of the majority party the leadership of a committee

• A system that gives the oldest member of the minority party the leadership of a committee

• A system that gives the member of the minority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee

• A system that gives the member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee

Multiple Choice

What changes were instituted by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970?

• Reduced the power of committee chairs

• Prohibited the chair from casting an absent vote

• Set 4 year terms for committee chairs

• Increased the power of committee chairs

Dropdown

Who has the power to write the rules in Congress and control the committees and select chairpersons?

Select answer

Multiple Select

How many standing committees are in Congress?

• D 16 in the Senate

• C) 18 in the Senate

• B) 19 in the House

• A) 16 in the House

Drag and Drop

What is the term used for the power to control which ideas become bills in Congress?

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

B) Gatekeeping Authority

A) Legislative Authority

D) Proposal Power

C) Oversight Power

Multiple Choice

What is the function of the Congressional Research Service?

• D) Develop legislative strategies

• A) Assess the costs and impact of legislation

• B) Investigate the finances and administration of government offices

• C) Perform unbiased factual research for Congresspeople

Dropdown

What is the purpose of caucuses in Congress?

Select answer

Multiple Choice

What is the main reason for Congress to have many committees?

• D) To oversee the implementation of laws

• C) To hold hearings on specific issues

• B) To increase the power of individual legislators

• A) To make the process of lawmaking more efficient

Multiple Choice

What is the function of the Government Accountability Office?

• A) Assess the costs and impact of legislation

• C) Perform unbiased factual research for Congresspeople

• D) Develop legislative strategies

• B) Investigate the finances and administration of government offices

Multiple Choice

What is the role of committees in helping Congresspeople build an identity for voters?

• D) Distinguish themselves when not passing many laws

• C) Hold hearings on specific issues

• B) Coordinate legislative efforts

• A) Develop expertise on certain topics