Committee System in Congress “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.” Woodrow Wilson 1885 “Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn’t even get out of committee.” F. Lee Bailey – Civil Rights attorney “Congress is functioning the way the Founding Fathers intended – not very well. They understood that if you move too quickly, our democracy will be less responsible to the majority...” Barber B. Conable, Jr. US Congressman

Congressional Committees/Sub. ~ 250 Where the real work is done Where most of the power is found Very important in the House - Why? –Subcommittees allow for even greater specialization Institutionalized system created in 1816 –Responsibilities: Consider bills Oversight of executive agencies Conduct investigations –Committee hearings: “must enable the gov. to control the governed and oblige it to control itself” Federalist #51

Bills/resolutions introduced to entire chamber –Assigned to a committee –Decide if bill is to move forward –House: majority has authority to bring an issue out of committee to the floor – discharge petition 1995 Republican Committee system reform –Weakened the committee system How chairs are appointed/selected Devaluation of seniority Shift of power from chairs to party leaders Term limits on committee chairs

Reforms House: –Devaluated seniority when appointing chairs –6 year term limits for committee and subcommittee chairs –8 year term for speaker –Most committees limited to 5 subcommittees –Rolling quorums prohibited –Majority party leaders given enhanced authority over committee chair selection

Member assignments cut back to two full committees and 4 subcommittees Verbatim transcripts of hearings and meeting required Members’ committee votes to be published 3/5ths floor vote required for measures that raise income tax rates Shift power from chairmen/women to to party leaders

Senate Reforms 6 year term limits for committee chairs Senators prohibited from ‘reclaiming’ seniority upon return to a committee on which they previously served Secret ballot elections for committee chairs –Majority leader can nominate chair

Committee System Standing Committees – approx.13 in each chamber –most important –only ones that can propose legislation –Continue from one Congress to the next –Powerful –Usually around 10,000 bills are proposed each session –Work horses of Congress

Joint Committees –Both houses serve –Conducts investigations or special studies Conference Committee –Joint committee created to iron out differences between Senate and House versions of a specific piece of legislation Select Committee(or special committee) –Temporary committee – can last several sessions Special committee lasts only one session –Appointed for specific purposes Conducting a special investigation or study Dissolves once purpose is completed

Committee Membership Seek assignment based on –Own interests or expertise –Help with prospects for reelection Committee Chairs – Maj. Party Power, prestige, influence –Authorized to select subcommittee chairs –Call meetings –Recommends members for conference comm. –Can kill a bill by not scheduling hearings on it pigeonhold –Have staff at their disposal > 3,000

Key Committees Appropriations 12 subcommittees –Large committee: 50 House, 30 Senate –Defined by the Constitution “appropriations made by law prior to expenditure of any $ from the Federal treasury” –Writes legislation allocating federal funds to government agencies –Levels limited by Budget Resolution –Charlie Dent RPA member in House

Armed Services Senate: chair & 25 members House: chair & 60 members Aeronautical and space activities Develop of weapons Military operations Branches of military Nuclear energy/national security Armed Forces pay/benefits

Finance Committee - Senate Ways & Means - House (1) Customs revenue, collection districts, and ports of entry and delivery. (2) Reciprocal trade agreements. (3) Revenue measures generally. (4) Revenue measures relating to insular possessions. (5) Bonded debt of the United States

Judiciary Committee Oversight –Department of Justice –FBI –Homeland Security Supreme Court nominations-who is the current chair???? Federal Court nominations Pending legislation

Energy and Commerce Oldest standing committee 1795 Promotion of: –commerce –public health – energy – technology

House of Representatives: –Committee on Committees for Republicans –Steering & Policy Committee for Democrats Senate –Steering Committee for both parties Committee Assignments

Rules Committee-House Order of business, recesses, adjournment rules –Sets rules for debate after bill leaves committee –Closed rule: “gag rule” Strict time limits on debates Forbids amendments from the floor Members not on committee have little choice but to vote for or against a bill as it is. –Open rule: permits amendments, less strict time limits

“The Speaker’s Committee” –Controlled by the Speaker –Mechanism speaker uses to maintain control of the House floor. –Used to be chaired by Speaker (1910) Considered most influential House committee - shaping legislation

Caucuses Equally important, less formal Grouping of members of Congress who share the same interests or points of view Approx. 70 in Congress –Black Caucus, Women’s, Southern Goal: shape agenda of Congress

Censure Resolutions / Reprimand Political punishment – 23 Congressmen in history Reprimand – lesser of the two –Slap on wrist –Usually given in private or letter Censure – public shaming –Politician stands before his peers during reading of censure resolution –Chamber votes on resolution –No loss of title, stature, power to vote etc. –2 nd censure: expulsion from chamber Charles Rangel DNY – 11 ethics violations tax issues

Effectiveness of Congress 113 th Congress considered least productive in history House voted to repeal Affordable Care Act 37 times. Look at the stats: tatistics tatistics press.org/2015/05/21/negative-views-of- new-congress-cross-party-lines/ press.org/2015/05/21/negative-views-of- new-congress-cross-party-lines/