1. Congressional Committees Chapter 5, Section 4

2. Warm-Up While watching the Congressional Committees: Crash Course Government and Politics record at least 6 facts you learned from the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evLR90Dx79M

3. Purpose of Committees To make lawmaking efficient How does it make lawmaking efficient? 1.Divides Work Divides Congress’ work among smaller groups, so work is spread out evenly Lawmakers become specialists and experts in that field 2.Filters Bills Huge number of bills are proposed every year If a bill can’t get through a committee it most likely wouldn’t get through the Floor 3.Educates the Public Hold public hearings and testimony Bring attention important issues

4. Kinds of Committees Standing Committees – Permanent Committees – Majority Party controls and selects chairpersons Subcommittees – Attached to the Standing Committees – Specialized in a subcategory Select Committees – Temporary Committees – Study one specific issue

5. Kinds of Committees Joint Committees – Temporary or Permanent – Responsible for researching and reporting their findings to both Houses of Congress – Do not directly deal with bills or proposed legislation Conference Committees – Deal with a bill that has been passed in different forms from the House and Senate – Work out the differences so identical forms can be sent to both Houses’ Floors ________________________________________________________________ ______

6. Choosing Committees Assignment – Political Parties pick the members – May be requested – Limited number of committees can be served per Congressman/woman Committee Chairperson’s Role – Chairpersons in a Standing Committee most powerful in Congress – They decide everything for the Committee Seniority System – Traditionally Chairpersons picked by seniority

7. Class Activity As always, if you do not finish in class you must finish for Homework, as this is an activity I could collect for the next quiz! 1.Look up both the House AND Senate Congressional Committees 2.Pick a minimum of 3 Committees from the House AND 3 Committees from the Senate that you find interesting or would like to be on if you were a Congressman/woman. 3.Pick 1 Committee from your 3 House Committees AND 1 Committee from your Senate Committees. Explain what that Committee does or focuses on, and why you would want to be on that particular Committee.