By: Madison Mackey, Jonielle Nembhard, and Jon

Edgar

• Describe the structure and function of the congressional committee system, including the seniority system, and assess the importance of the committees to the lawmaking process.

• The bulk of the work of Congress, especially in the House, is done in the Committee

• Committee Chairmen: members who head the standing committees in each chamber – also hold strategic post

• The chairmen of each of these permanent committees is chosen from the majority party by the majority party caucus–Caucus: As a nominating device, a

group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election

• Committee Chairmen decide when their committees will meet, which bills they will take in, whether they will hold public hearings, and what witnesses the committee should call

• An unwritten custom that dates from the late 1800’s, and is still closely followed in both houses today

• Provides that the most important posts, in both formal and the party organization, will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress

• The rule is applied most strictly to the choice of committee chairmen

• The head of each committee is almost always the longest-serving majority party member of that committee

• Insist that the Seniority System ignores ability, rewards mere length of service, and works to discourage younger members

• Critics also note that the rule means a committee head often comes from a “safe” constituency – a state or district in which, election after election, one party regularly wins the seat.

And even more!!!!!!!

• With no play of fresh and conflicting forces and those places, critics claim, the chairmen of a committee is often out of touch with current public opinion.

• Argue that it ensures that a Argue that it ensures that a powerful and experienced powerful and experienced member will head each member will head each committee.committee.

• They also say that the rule is They also say that the rule is easy to apply, and that it very easy to apply, and that it very nearly eliminates the nearly eliminates the possibilities of fights within the possibilities of fights within the party.party.

• Because the opponents of the rule have gained some ground in recent years, the House Republican Conference now picks several GOP members of House committees by secret ballot.

• The lawmaking process in both houses is built around committees, and these bodies play a major role in shaping the public policies of the United States.