committee system. seniority rule this custom (not a rule or law) says that the most important...
TRANSCRIPT
Committee System
Seniority Rule• This custom (not a rule or law) says that the most
important Congressional leadership roles go to the members who have served the longest
• Seniors have privileges over Freshmen
Introduction to Committees• Committee• Chairperson• Committee Appointment• Appointment Considerations:
1. Background
2. Party Affiliation
3. Seniority Rule
Steering Committee
Committee on Committees
Types of Committees• Standing Committee
• Select Committee
• Joint Committee
• Conference Committee
Standing Committee• Permanent Committee
• Specializes in one subject, and handles bills relating to that subject (subject matter)
• May be broken down into smaller sub-committees
Example (U.S. Senate Committee)
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Western
Hemisphere
Near Eastern and South and Central Asia
African
Affairs
Eastern Asia and Pacific
European
Affairs
Committee
Sub Committees
Example (U.S. Senate Committee)
U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee
Air Land Emerging threats and capabilities
Personnel Readiness and
Management Support
Sea
Power
Committee
Sub Committees
Strategic
Forces
House Standing Committees• Agriculture• Appropriations• Armed Services• Budget• Education/Workforce• Energy/Commerce• Financial Services• Government Reform• House Administration• International Relations
• Judiciary• Resources• Rules• Science• Small Business• Standards of Conduct• Transportation and
Infrastructure• Veterans Affairs• Ways and Means
Senate Standing Committees• Agriculture• Appropriations• Armed Services• Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs• Commerce, Science,
and Transportation• Energy and Natural
Resources• Environment and
Public Works
• Finance• Foreign Relations• Government Affairs• Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions• Indian Affairs• Judiciary• Rules and Administration• Small Business• Veterans Affairs
Select Committee• Usually Temporary
• Created for a specific purpose, such as conducting an investigation
• Examples:
US Senate (Select Committees)
• Select Committee on Aging
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Joint Committee• Permanent or Temporary
• Includes members of both the House and Senate so that both houses do not duplicate work
EconomicLibraryPrintingTaxation
Conference Committee• Temporary Committee
• Formed to work out a compromise on a bill when the House and Senate have passed different versions of the same bill
Caucuses• Caucuses are informal groups formed by members
of Congress who share a common purpose or a set of goals. They elect the party leadership. Examples:
• Congressional Black Caucus• Women’s Caucus• Democratic Caucus• Republican Caucus