Congressional Committees and Staff Roles

What type of Congressional committee is permanent and handles the daily tasks of Congress?

• Special committees

• Joint committees

• Standing committees

• Conference committees

Who is the person responsible for leading a Congressional committee?

• The Speaker

• The President

• The Chairperson

• The Majority Leader

What power allows a committee chair to decide which issues or bills are considered by the committee?

• Proposal power

• Oversight power

• Mark-up power

• Gatekeeping authority

What is the power of Congressional committees to check how laws are being put into action and to scrutinize policies?

• Legislative power

• Oversight power

• Veto power

• Judicial review

What changes were made to the House of Representatives under Speaker Newt Gingrich?

• Increased the number of subcommittees

• Decreased the power of the Speaker

• Introduced term limits for committee chairs

• Made seniority the only factor for committee appointments

What is a primary role of staff assistants who work for individual members of Congress?

• Investigating government administrative offices

• Assessing the costs of proposed laws

• Researching and drafting new laws

• Organizing semi-formal groups of members

Which congressional staff agency is responsible for evaluating the costs and effects of proposed laws?

• The Congressional Research Service

• The Government Accountability Office

• The Congressional Budget Office

• The Federal Elections Commission

What is the primary function of caucuses within Congress?

• To formally pass new laws

• To conduct investigations into government spending

• To allow members to gather and discuss shared interests

• To directly elect the Speaker of the House