Chapter 10 How Congress Works Section 2 The Committee System

© EMC Publishing, LLC Committees Look at Proposed Legislation  Committees consider, draft, and redraft proposed legislation, including bills (proposed laws) and resolutions (legislation dealing with temporary or unusual matters).  Committees are the primary information gatherers on policy alternatives and which groups will support which policies.  Committees provide members with positions of power and can influence national policy.  The most senior members generally serve on the more powerful committees.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Types of Bills and Resolutions

© EMC Publishing, LLC Committees Provide Oversight  Committees perform legislative oversight by ensuring that executive agencies carry out laws as Congress intended.  If agencies are not acting in ways that Congress agrees with, then Congress can change the laws that give agencies their power and funding.  The Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970 require that Congress perform legislative oversight.  Oversight tends to occur when there is a scandal or increase in public interest, rather than as a careful and systematic ongoing process.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Standing Committees  Standing committees are permanent committees that do most of the work in Congress.  Standing committees can amend or kill bills before they reach Congress.  Standing committees deal with specific policy areas.  The chairs of standing committees have considerable power, and members of Congress seek these positions.  The House Rules Committee determines when to debate bills, how long to debate, how to amend bills, and whether to kill bills.  The majority party controls the House Rules Committee.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Standing Committees in the 110th Congress

© EMC Publishing, LLC Select Committees  Select committees are set up for issues that do not fit into the existing standing committees. They are generally temporary and do not recommend legislation.  For example, select committees investigated the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and President Bill Clinton’s financial dealings in Arkansas.  The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics and the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct investigate actions that might violate the rules of behavior for senators and representatives.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Joint Conference and Committees  Joint committees consist of members of both houses of Congress. They jointly deal with bills or propose legislation.  Conference committees resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of bills and then submit the final bill to each house for a vote.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Your Turn In August 2007, a bridge on Interstate 35W in Minneapolis collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring others. In October, the House Transportation Committee reviewed a bill for $25 billion in bridge repairs. The committee revised the bill and approved $2 billion in bridge repairs. Which type of committee is the House Transportation Committee? a. Standing b. Select c. Joint d. Conference

© EMC Publishing, LLC Getting on the Right Committees  Members of Congress try to get on committees that fit their goals.  Members concerned with reelection will want to get on committees that deal with issues relevant to their constituents.  Members concerned with lawmaking will want to get on committees that deal with high-profile matters and issues that have broad interest to many people.  Members concerned with having influence will want to be on the most powerful committees, which will enable them to grant favors to other members of Congress.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Who Decides Committee Membership?  Committee membership and leadership are determined by party leaders and party caucuses.  In the past, the seniority system made chairs of committees powerful.  Now, the chairs must be mindful of the concerns of the party leaders and party caucuses or risk being removed.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Congressional Resources  Members of Congress enjoy much support from a large staff including secretaries, computer personnel, and other professionals.  The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides research services.  The Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits executive departments, conducts policy evaluations, and assists committee staff with legislative oversight.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides economic data and analysis to members of Congress.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Your Turn Imagine that you are a brand new senator. Which type of committee should you join to advance your political career? a.Standing b.Select c.Joint d.Conference