legislative committees

CommitteesCommitteesWhat are committees used for in everyday life?

What about in Congress?What are committees used for in everyday life?

What about in Congress?

Why do we need committees in the legislative branch?

Divide up the work that will be done

Congress receives a lot of bills (almost 10,000 a year)

How would they do it all by themselves?

Why do we need committees in the legislative branch?

Divide up the work that will be done

Congress receives a lot of bills (almost 10,000 a year)

How would they do it all by themselves?

Most of the legislative work of Congress occurs in Committees.Most of the legislative work of Congress occurs in Committees.

Who is in a committee?

Majority of each house holds all the committee chairman seats

The majority party will also hold a majority of the seats on each committee, effectively controlling all the business of a committee

Who is in a committee?

Majority of each house holds all the committee chairman seats

The majority party will also hold a majority of the seats on each committee, effectively controlling all the business of a committee

Most bills receive their most thorough administration in these bodies; members of both bodies usually respect the recommendations that committees make.

Most bills receive their most thorough administration in these bodies; members of both bodies usually respect the recommendations that committees make.

Committee Chair

The committee member of majority party with most seniority becomes chair

Committee Chair

The committee member of majority party with most seniority becomes chair

Committee Chair Duties

They head standing committees in each chamber. This is important because of the bulk of the work is done in committees

Committee Chair Duties

They head standing committees in each chamber. This is important because of the bulk of the work is done in committees

Committee Chair Continued

Decide when committee will meet, which bills they will take up, whether they will hold public hearings, what witnesses to call

Manage the debate when the bill is called to the floor

Committee Chair Continued

Decide when committee will meet, which bills they will take up, whether they will hold public hearings, what witnesses to call

Manage the debate when the bill is called to the floor

Committee Assignments

Determined by House and Senate leadership and a caucus of the two parties

Members of Congress attempt to get on a committee that will allow them to do the most for their constituents

Committee Assignments

Determined by House and Senate leadership and a caucus of the two parties

Members of Congress attempt to get on a committee that will allow them to do the most for their constituents

Numbers

Reps are on 1-2 Committees, Senators are on 3-4

Numbers

Reps are on 1-2 Committees, Senators are on 3-4

Committees sizes

9-75 members in the House

12-28 members in Senate

Committees sizes

9-75 members in the House

12-28 members in Senate

Subcommittees

Often committees assign bills to smaller groups, subcommittees, for initial consideration

MOST WORK IS DONE HERE!!

Each subcommittee is responsible for a particular slice of the committees overall workload

Subcommittees

Often committees assign bills to smaller groups, subcommittees, for initial consideration

MOST WORK IS DONE HERE!!

Each subcommittee is responsible for a particular slice of the committees overall workload

Types of Committees

Standing

Select

Joint

Conference

Types of Committees

Standing

Select

Joint

Conference

Permanent committees in a legislative body to which bills in a specific subject matter area are concerned. These are the only ones that can propose legislation by reporting a bill out to the full House or Senate, with few exception.

MEMBERS BECOME EXPERTS IN THIS AREA

Permanent committees in a legislative body to which bills in a specific subject matter area are concerned. These are the only ones that can propose legislation by reporting a bill out to the full House or Senate, with few exception.

MEMBERS BECOME EXPERTS IN THIS AREA

Standing CommitteesStanding Committees

Currently 20 in the House and 18 in Senate

Fate of most bills is decided in the various standing committees, not on the floor of either house

Most members try to win assignments on important committees

Currently 20 in the House and 18 in Senate

Fate of most bills is decided in the various standing committees, not on the floor of either house

Most members try to win assignments on important committees

Examples of important committees

HOUSE

Ways and Means

Appropriations

Armed Service

Judiciary

Examples of important committees

HOUSE

Ways and Means

Appropriations

Armed Service

Judiciary

International relations

House Rules Committee - traffic cop. Screens the bills, if it reaches the floor it has also cleared the House Rules Committee.

Place bill on the calendar, limit debate time, determine allowed amendments

International relations

House Rules Committee - traffic cop. Screens the bills, if it reaches the floor it has also cleared the House Rules Committee.

Place bill on the calendar, limit debate time, determine allowed amendments

SENATE

Foreign Relations

Appropriations

Finance

Judiciary

Armed Services

Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs

SENATE

Foreign Relations

Appropriations

Finance

Judiciary

Armed Services

Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs

Select Committees

AKA Special Committees

Panels set up for some specific purpose and most often for a limited time

Select Committees

AKA Special Committees

Panels set up for some specific purpose and most often for a limited time

Examples include Watergate or Iran ContraExamples include Watergate or Iran Contra

Appointment to a special committee

Speaker or the President of the Senate appoint with the help of leadership in each party

Appointment to a special committee

Speaker or the President of the Senate appoint with the help of leadership in each party

Joint Committees

A committee composed of members of both houses

Most are permanent and thus standing, but they can also be temporary/select

Usually used to communicate to the public or for investigations, but generally do not send bills to the floor

Joint Committees

A committee composed of members of both houses

Most are permanent and thus standing, but they can also be temporary/select

Usually used to communicate to the public or for investigations, but generally do not send bills to the floor

Random Information

Committees function by calling interested parties and expert witness who have some information to give

Random Information

Committees function by calling interested parties and expert witness who have some information to give

Pigeonhole a bill -

Committees can vote a bill out to keep it from being considered in their house.

Pigeonhole a bill -

Committees can vote a bill out to keep it from being considered in their house.

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Responds to congressional requests for information. Looks up facts and indicates arguments for and against, but DOES NOT RECOMMEND policy

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Responds to congressional requests for information. Looks up facts and indicates arguments for and against, but DOES NOT RECOMMEND policy

General Accounting Office (GAO)

Financial Audits of money spent by the executive branch. Investigatory agency

General Accounting Office (GAO)

Financial Audits of money spent by the executive branch. Investigatory agency

Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)

Study and evaluate policies and programs with a significant use of or impact on technology

Congressional Budget Office

Advises Congress on the effects of spending and provides information about costs

Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)

Study and evaluate policies and programs with a significant use of or impact on technology

Congressional Budget Office

Advises Congress on the effects of spending and provides information about costs

Republican majority in the House of Representatives, elected in 1994, campaigned under a platform called the Contract with America

A blueprint for the first 100 days

Republican majority in the House of Representatives, elected in 1994, campaigned under a platform called the Contract with America

A blueprint for the first 100 days

Contract with AmericaContract with America

Pledged within the first 100 days:

Pledged within the first 100 days:

Balance budget Amendment

Crime bill that funds police and prisons

Welfare reform

Strengthen parental rights in education and child support enforcement

Family tax cuts

Stronger national defense

Rise in Social Security earnings limit

Job creation and regulatory reform policies

Common sense legal reforms to stop frivolous lawsuits

A first ever vote on term limits for members of Congress

Balance budget Amendment

Crime bill that funds police and prisons

Welfare reform

Strengthen parental rights in education and child support enforcement

Family tax cuts

Stronger national defense

Rise in Social Security earnings limit

Job creation and regulatory reform policies

Common sense legal reforms to stop frivolous lawsuits

A first ever vote on term limits for members of Congress