Chapter 5 Lesson 4
Congressional Committees
Committees do the majority of the work in Congress
 Divide the work
 Allow for specialists
 Alert the public to important issues
Types of Committees
1. Standing- permanent committees that oversee certain types of issues.
Chairpersons picked by the majority party. Most members are also from the
majority party. Sometime form subcommittees- a smaller group from a
standing committee that specialized in a topic or issue.
2. Select- a temporary committee formed to study an issue and then report back
to the House or Senate
3. Joint- a committee formed from members of the House and Senate to study
an issue and report back to both Houses
4. Conference- temporary committee set up when the House and Senate have
passed different versions of the same bill.
Choosing committee members
 Each party assigns members to standing committees
 Representatives can request certain assignments
Increase reelections chances
Influence national policy
Influence other members of congress
Committee Chairperson- powerful
Decides when they meet
Decides which bills to consider
Controls witnesses and hearings
Controls budgets
Longest serving member is usually the chair (seniority system)