Congressional Committees

Identify kinds of committees and why members serve on them

Purpose of Committees

1. Allows members of Congress to divide their work into smaller groups

2. Committees select which bills need further consideration

3. Through public hearings, committees inform the public about key issues facing the nation

Committees · House.gov

Kinds of Committees

1. Standing Committees2. Select Committees 3. Joint Committees

4. Conference Committees

Standing Committees

They continue from one Congress to the next

Subcommittees- specialize in a subcategory of its standing committee

Senate Standing Committees, 113th Congress | Infoplease.com

Select Committees

They study one specific issue and report their findings to the Senate or HouseExamples: hunger, organized crime,

ethics, Indian affairs

Joint Committees

They serve as study groups that report their findings back to the House and Senate

They are to coordinate the work of both Houses of Congress

Joint Committee on Taxation

Conference Committees

They work to resolve the differences b/w two versions of the same bill.

Members of the House and Senate sit on this committee

The House Rules Committee• The “traffic officer” in the

House• Helps to direct the flow

of legislation• Most powerful

committee

Power to…• Move bills along quickly• Hold them back• Or, stop them

completely