1. Committees

2. Types of Committees 1.) Standing committees 2.) Select or special Committees 3.) Joint Committees

3. Standing Committees Permanent Most are subject-related (Judiciary, Foreign Policy, Armed Services) Majority party holds majority membership of each committee

4. Select/Special committees Temporary Set up for a specific purpose and for a limited time Oversight functions-keep thing from going wrong in govt. Investigations Example: Remember this story?

5. Joint Committees Made up of members from both houses Permanent Example: Joint Economic Committee – +

6. Conference committees Type of joint committee Works differences in Senate and House versions of bills on the same topic Creates a “compromise bill” before it is sent to the President

7. Committees Chairpersons Strategic post Chosen by majority party – Chairpersons are selected by seniority rule – Rule states that the majority party member who has the most consecutive years in congress has seniority

8. Committee Chairpersons Duties – Decides when committees will meet – What bills to consider – Whether there will be a public hearing or witnesses – Manages bill upon report committees