Congressional Committees Overview
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Congressional Committees Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of the Necessary Expense Doctrine in appropriations law?

  • To allow expenditures necessary for an authorized purpose. (correct)
  • To prevent any spending outside the approved budget.
  • To define the roles of different agencies in the budgeting process.
  • To establish the duration for which appropriations can be utilized.

    • Which principle of appropriations law governs the duration for which funds may be available for spending?

  • Principle of Time (correct)
  • Role of Committee Reports
  • Principle of Purpose
  • Necessary Expense Doctrine

    • What distinguishes severable appropriations from other types of appropriations?

  • They are only used for emergency expenditures.
  • They require committee reports for any spending.
  • They can be divided into segments that can be funded over multiple years. (correct)
  • They are allocated only for a single fiscal year.

    • What is the fundamental role of authorizations in appropriations law?

    <p>To provide permission for expenditures within specific limits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Committee reports contribute to controlling agencies by:

    <p>Providing specific guidelines for how appropriated funds should be used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long is the term for a U.S. Senator as specified in the Constitution?

    <p>Six years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who has the authority to elect Senators as per the Seventeenth Amendment?

    <p>The citizens of the state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the Vice President have in the Senate?

    <p>Presides over the Senate but does not vote unless tied</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which body is responsible for originating all bills related to raising revenue?

    <p>The House of Representatives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if the President does not approve a bill?

    <p>The bill is returned with objections for reconsideration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for a bill to become law after the President's objections?

    <p>Two-thirds vote in both Houses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are votes in both Houses recorded according to the Constitution?

    <p>By yeas and nays, with names recorded</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the Vice President not having a vote in the Senate?

    <p>They only vote if the Senate is equally divided</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary expectation of members of Congress despite polarization?

    <p>To find common ground and serve their constituents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the representation status of U.S. territories in Congress?

    <p>They have a delegate in the House but no representation in the Senate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many basic types of committees are there in Congress?

    <p>Three</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes standing committees in Congress?

    <p>They are the permanent committees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the delegate elected by U.S. territories?

    <p>To participate in committee meetings and legislative activities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of committee in Congress?

    <p>Advisory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature distinguishes special or select committees from standing committees?

    <p>They focus on specific topics and can be temporary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are U.S. territories and districts represented in Congress?

    <p>By a delegate without voting rights in the House</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of a conference committee?

    <p>To resolve differences between bills passed by the House and Senate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which committees have the most influence over Department of Defense operations?

    <p>House and Senate Armed Services, and House and Senate Appropriations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who hires the professional staff for a congressional committee?

    <p>The committee chair</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes personal staff of a member of Congress?

    <p>They assist with constituent support and lawmaking issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of committee staff compared to personal staff?

    <p>Committee staff specializes in matters before their committee</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the salaries of personal staff members funded?

    <p>From allowances granted to each member</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a role of the conference committee?

    <p>Drafting new legislation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes committee staff from personal staff?

    <p>Committee staff provide support to various committees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a conference committee?

    <p>To reconcile differences between the House and Senate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true regarding the composition of conference committees?

    <p>They can include non-committee members if deemed appropriate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if conferees exceed their authority during negotiations?

    <p>A point of order will be raised against the conference report.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often does the originating chamber instruct its conferees?

    <p>Rarely, as such instructions are typically not binding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What options do conferees dealing with an amendment have?

    <p>They are limited in their options compared to conferees dealing with whole bills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which power is NOT typically associated with conference committees?

    <p>Introducing entirely new legislation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it incorrect to say that a larger number of conferees provides an advantage?

    <p>All conferees vote as equals regardless of their number.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a conference committee primarily deal with after deliberation?

    <p>The matters in disagreement between the two chambers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Congressional Committees

    • Congress has three basic types of committees: standing, special/select/other, and joint.
    • Standing committees are permanent and cover a specific topic area.
    • Special, select, or other committees are established for a specific topic area and can be either long-term or dissolved once the issue has been addressed.
    • Joint committees include members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
    • Conference committees are convened to resolve differences between bills passed by the House and Senate.

    House and Senate Committees

    • Of the 20 standing committees in the House of Representatives and 16 in the Senate, four have the most direct influence over the operations of the Department of Defense: House and Senate Armed Services, House and Senate Appropriations, House Oversight and Accountability and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

    Congressional Staff Members

    • Each member of Congress has a personal staff to assist with constituent support and lawmaking issues.
    • Personal staff members are paid out of allowances granted to each member and serve at the will of the member they work for.
    • Professional staffers provide support to various congressional committees.
    • Professional staffers are hired by the committee chair and may be supplemented by individuals from members’ staffs.
    • Professional staffers serve at the will of the committee chair and are not civil service employees.

    Conference Committees

    • When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, a conference committee may be formed to reconcile the differences.
    • Conference committees are composed of members of the respective House and Senate committees.
    • Conferees from each House vote as a unit.
    • Conference committees can recommend that the originating chamber recede from all or certain of its amendments, the other chamber recede from its disagreement to all or certain of the originating chamber amendments and agree to those, or report an inability to agree in all or in part.
    • Each house can instruct its conferees, but this is rarely done.
    • Conference committees are very powerful and have often been referred to as the third chamber of Congress.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the various types of congressional committees, including standing, special, and joint committees. It highlights their roles, characteristics, and the impact they have on government operations, particularly in relation to the Department of Defense. Test your understanding of how these committees function within both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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