1. Committees
Congress

2. What do committees do in Congress?

3. Types of Committees
Congress

4. The House & Senate are too big to actually write laws
Congress
Committees
Why Committees?
The House & Senate are too big to actually write laws
Congressmen divide into smaller groups to make policy making more efficient and functional
The committees actually write the laws and the entire House and Senate vote on them.

5. Congressmen are policy generalists – know a little about everything
Committees
Specialization
Congressmen are policy generalists – know a little about everything
Being on a committee allows a Congressman to become a specialist in a type of policy.
The Congressmen on a particular committee tend to be specialists in a realm of policies, and their approval will influence votes from generalists on the “floor”

6. Congress Committees Standing Committees
A permanent committee – it’s there at least for the whole “term” of Congress
These are made entirely out of House members or entirely out of Senate members.
They are policy-centric – they focus on a type of policy
They are further divided into subcommittees – that are further specialized
They play the main role in
law-making.

7. Congress Committees Select Committees
A temporary committee – it’s made for a special occasion
These are disbanded as soon as their job is completed
They main thing they do is investigate something
They are made of either House or Senate members, but not both.

8. They have members of both the House and Senate
Congress
Committees
Joint Committees
A permanent committee
They have members of both the House and Senate
They have jurisdiction over an issue that is of interest to both houses

9. Congress Committees Joint Committees Joint Committee on Taxation
Economic Joint Committee
Joint Committee on the Library
Joint Committee on Printing

10. Congress Committees Conference Committees
A temporary committee – it’s disbanded when it’s job is complete
These include members of the House and Senate
They must make compromises between the House and Senate versions of a bill.
They send this bill back to the House & Senate floor for voting.
These can be made entirely of Democrats or Republicans

11. House Committees
Congress

12. Congress House Committees House Rules Committee
When a bill comes out of its standing committee, it usually heads to HRC
House Rules Committee
They assign the bill a “rule”
They decide for how long and
under what rules the full body
will debate the bill
An “open rule” allows other House members to add amendments
during floor debate
A “closed rule” means that no amendments can be added
They also determine how much time is allotted for debate

13. Congress House Committees House Ways and Means Committee
This is the main tax writing committee
House Ways and Means Committee
They have jurisdiction over taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and some other social programs
Very important because the Constitution says all tax bills must originate in the House – this committee will always start that
Members of this committee can’t be on other committees

14. Congress House Committees House Ways and Means Committee
They control the “power of the purse”
House Ways and Means Committee
They are in charge of spending money
Members of this committee have the best chance to get “pork barrel” projects passed – or get them passed for others as a favor.

15. Congress House Committees Other Standing Committees
House Foreign Affairs Committee
House Homeland Security Committee
House Judiciary Committee
House Agriculture Committee
House Natural Resources Committee
House Armed Services Committee
House Oversight Committee
House Budget Committee
House Science, Space, & Technology Committee
House Education & Workforce Committee
House Small Business Committee
House Energy & Commerce Committee
House Transportation Committee
House Ethics Committee
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee

16. Senate Committees
Congress

17. Congress Senate Committees Senate Judiciary Committee
Only the Senate has the power to approve federal judges
Senate Judiciary Committee
They review all the appointees
They bring nominees in to testify about their past rulings and current opinions
Their recommendation is likely to influence the way members of the Senate vote

18. Congress Senate Committees Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Only the Senate has the power to approve treaties
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
They review treaties signed by the president to decide whether or not to recommend ratification
Their recommendation is likely to influence the way members of the Senate vote

19. Congress Senate Committees Other Standing Committees
Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Senate Finance Committee
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry Committee
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee
Senate Armed Services Committee
Senate Administration Committee
Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Senate Small Business Committee
Senate Budget Committee
Senate Veterans’ Affiars Committee
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

20. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

21. Special House & Senate Committees
Congress
Wrap Up
Purpose of Committees
Types of Committees
House Rules Committee
Special House & Senate Committees
Focus on these things: