Congressional Committees

The House and the Senate are divided up into committees to make them more _____________.

• delicious

• electable

• efficient

• agreeable

Answer explanation

Efficient means to produce results without wasting time.

______________ Committees ALWAYS exist and handle the day-to-day business of Congress.

The heads of each committee are called _________________.

• chairpersons

• directors

• presidents

• executives

Joint Committees include members from _______ houses of Congress.

• the upper

• the lower

• one

• BOTH

What are some problems that might happen if all 535 members of Congress had to decide together how to write and pass laws (legislation)?

How does a Senator/Representative's knowledge and state play in to what committees they would like to be on?

Anyone in Congress can propose a law, this is called​ ______________

If a committee chairperson gets to decide what proposed bills the committees will discuss and vote upon, they are essentially deciding what could potentially become law and what could not. Do you think this is too much power for a committee chairperson?

• Yes, it is too much power for a committee chairperson to have.

• No, a committee chairperson should have this power to narrow down what bills take up the time of Congress.

• I think this power is okay to have but it should belong to someone else and should not be given to a committee chairperson.

If a bill does not get a majority of votes in committee then it does not go to the rest of the House or Senate, this means the bill​ (a)  

• dies
• mark up
• advances

T or F. Once a bill becomes a law, Congress' work is done and they no longer have any power when it comes to the law.

• True.

• False.

Answer explanation

FALSE. Congress has the power of oversight, meaning they can oversee how the law is being carried out by the Executive Branch and make sure it is being done correctly according to the Constitution and federal laws.