Congressional Committees

Learning Objectives

• To identify the structure and role of the committee system

• To understand the role and powers of;Standing CommitteesHouse Rules CommitteeConference CommitteesSelect CommitteesCommittee Chairs

Standing Committees

Roles Powers

p191-195

Standing Committees

Roles• Permanent policy-specialist

committees• Membership proportionate

to majority/minority parties• Conduct committee stage of

legislation• Investigations into policy

area• Confirmation of presidential

appointments (Senate)

Powers• Hold ‘hearings’ and call

‘witnesses’• Question witnesses• Power to help chambers

manage their workload• Can not legislate• Can not require executive to

comply• Can not implement policies

EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF CONGRESSIONAL STANDING COMMITTEES.

SENATEAgriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans' Affairs

HOUSEAgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation and the WorkforceEnergy and CommerceEthicsFinancial ServicesForeign AffairsHomeland SecurityHouse AdministrationJudiciaryNatural ResourcesOversight and Government ReformRulesScience, Space, and TechnologySmall BusinessTransportation and InfrastructureVeterans’ AffairsWays and MeansIntelligence

House Rules Committee

Roles Powers

p195

House Rules Committee

Roles• A standing committee• Responsible for prioritising

bills coming from the committee stage on to the House floor for 2nd readings

Powers• ‘vital legislative role’• Sets out rules for debate• Membership smaller and

more skewed to majority party

• Chair is considered one of the most influential posts in Congress

p195

WHY IS THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE SO IMPORTANT?

Conference Committees

Roles Powers

p195-196

Conference Committees

Roles• Reconcile differences

between the House and Senate versions of a bill

• Set up to consider one particular bill (ad hoc)

• May be reconvened if version not agreed by a vote

• Used less frequently – leadership usually resolve differences

Powers• Version must be agreed by

vote on floor of each house• Usually draw up the final

version of a bill• Power checked – House or

Senate can refuse to sign up to compromise version

Select Committees

Roles Powers

p196

Select Committees

Roles• Known as special or

investigative committees• Set up to investigate a

particular issue (ad hoc)• Standing committees have

an investigative function – not within policy area or time consuming

Powers• Hold ‘hearings’ and call

‘witnesses’• Question witnesses

Committee Chairs

Background Powers

p196-198

Committee Chairs

Background• Drawn from majority party• Seniority rule• Ranking minority members• Term limits

Powers• Control committee’s agenda• Decide when committee will meet• Control the committee’s budget• Influence the membership, meetings

and hearings of sub-committees• Supervise a sizeable committee staff• Serve as spokesperson on the

committee’s policy area within Congress, to the White House and in the media

• Make scheduling requests• Report legislation to the floor