Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are Standing Committees?
What are Standing Committees?
- Temporary panels set up for a special purpose
- Divisions of standing committees
- Permanent panels in each house of Congress (correct)
- Composed of members from both houses
What are Subcommittees?
What are Subcommittees?
- Committees set up for a special purpose
- Divisions of standing committees that do most committee work (correct)
- Committees made up of members of both houses
- Temporary committees created to settle bill differences
What is a Select Committee?
What is a Select Committee?
A committee set up for a special purpose and often for a limited time.
What is a Joint Committee?
What is a Joint Committee?
What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?
What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?
How do Standing Committees function?
How do Standing Committees function?
What are the responsibilities of the House Rules Committee?
What are the responsibilities of the House Rules Committee?
What is the role of select committees?
What is the role of select committees?
Compare the functions of joint and conference committees.
Compare the functions of joint and conference committees.
How do committees help Congress do its work?
How do committees help Congress do its work?
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Study Notes
Committees in Congress
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Standing Committees: Permanent groups in Congress responsible for specific areas of legislation.
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Subcommittees: Subdivisions of standing committees that handle specific tasks within the committee's broader agenda.
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Select Committees: Created for a unique purpose, typically to address a specific issue or investigation for a limited duration.
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Joint Committees: Composed of members from both the House and Senate, aimed at coordinating efforts on particular subjects.
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Conference Committees: Temporary joint committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill, ensuring consistent legislation.
Functioning of Committees
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Standing Committees' Role: When a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a relevant standing committee, which assesses its viability before it reaches the floor for voting. Most legislative decisions occur within these committees.
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House Rules Committee Responsibilities: This committee regulates the scheduling of bills for debate in the House, possessing the authority to expedite, postpone, or prevent action on proposed legislation.
Special Committees
- Select Committees' Investigative Role: These ad-hoc committees may investigate significant issues. Notable examples include the Senate Watergate Committee and the Iran-Contra Committee, which explored critical political scandals and irregularities.
Comparison of Committee Functions
- Joint vs. Conference Committees:
- Joint committees facilitate collaboration between the houses on shared tasks, while conference committees seek to create a unified version of a bill when differing versions exist.
Overall Importance of Committees
- Committees streamline congressional operations by reviewing and modifying legislation, making informed recommendations regarding bills for floor votes. Their subdivisions (subcommittees) conduct extensive analysis, enabling efficient lawmaking. Select committees address unique challenges, while joint committees ensure cohesive approaches to legislative issues.
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