Congressional Committees

CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEES

COMMITTEE CHAIRSSTANDING COMMITTEES• What is a standing committee?

• What role do standing committees play?

• What standing committees are more prominent and influential in the House?

• The Senate?

• What does the House Rules Committee do?

• What is the result of most bills in the committees to which they are referred?

• Why is the House Rules Committee so powerful?

• What is a committee chairman?

• Why is being named as committee chairman a very strategic post?

• What do committee chairmen have a major say in?

• What is the “seniority rule?”

• List and explain 2 criticisms of the seniority system.

• List and explain 2 defenses of the seniority system.

CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEES

SELECT COMMITTEES JOINT AND CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

• Why are “select committees” set up?

• How are members of select committees chosen?

• Describe an example of how a select committee conducted an investigation and the findings and result of that investigation.

• What is a joint committee?

• Provide AND explain an example of a joint committee.

• What is the purpose of conference committees?

CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEES

COMMITTEE CHAIRSSTANDING COMMITTEES• What is a standing committee?

• permanent committees to which bills of a specific subject will be sent to

• What role do standing committees play?• each bill gets the most thorough consideration

when in committee• What standing committees are more prominent and

influential in the House?• Rules• Ways and Means• Appropriations• Armed Services

• The Senate?• Foreign Relations• Appropriations• Finance• Judiciary

• What does the House Rules Committee do?• It controls the flow of bills to the floor of the

House and sets the conditions for their consideration

• What is the result of most bills in the committees to which they are referred?• Most bills die in the committees to which they

are referred• Why is the House Rules Committee so powerful?

• It can speed, delay, or prevent House action on a measure

• What is a committee chairman?• Members who head the standing committees

• Why is being named as committee chairman a very strategic post?• Most of the work in Congress is done in the

committees• What do committee chairmen have a major say in?

• They have a say in what bills are considered, whether to hold public hearings, and what witnesses are to be called

• What is the “seniority rule?”• An unwritten rule that the most

important positions in Congress are held by those with the most experience

• List and explain 2 criticisms of the seniority system.• The system ignores ability – younger members

with more knowledge on a subject might not get a chance

• Committee chairs often come from “safe” districts – “safe” districts create a person that might be out of touch with current public opinion

• List and explain 2 defenses of the seniority system.• Committee chairs are powerful and

experienced – they know how to get work done• Encourages people to stay on a committee –

create expertise

CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEES

SELECT COMMITTEES JOINT AND CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

• Why are “select committees” set up?• Committees that are established for a specific

reason

• How are members of select committees chosen?• Members of these committees are chosen by

the Speaker of the House and the president of the Senate

• Senate Watergate Committee• Investigated “illegal, improper, and unethical

activities were engaged in by any persons … in the election of 1972.”

• Formed a link in the events of Watergate that led to the resignation of President Nixon

• What is a joint committee?• A committee composed of members from both

the House of Reps. and the Senate• Provide AND explain an example of a joint

committee.• Joint Committee on Taxation – studies the U.S.

tax system and presents it finding to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee

• What is the purpose of conference committees?• A temporary committee established to iron out

the differences in a bill that both the House and the Senate will accept

• Describe an example of how a select committee conducted an investigation and the findings and result of that investigation.