Congressional Committees
STANDING COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
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What is a standing committee?
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What is a committee chairman?
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What role do standing committees play?
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Why is being named as committee chairman a very
strategic post?
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What standing committees are more prominent and
influential in the House?
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What do committee chairmen have a major say in?
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The Senate?
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What does the House Rules Committee do?
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CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES
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What is the “seniority rule?”
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List and explain 2 criticisms of the seniority system.
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List and explain 2 defenses of the seniority system.
What is the result of most bills in the committees to
which they are referred?
Why is the House Rules Committee so powerful?
SELECT COMMITTEES
JOINT AND CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
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Why are “select committees” set up?
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How are members of select committees chosen?
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What is a joint committee?
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CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES
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Provide AND explain an example
of a joint committee.
Describe an example of how a select committee
conducted an investigation and the findings and
result of that investigation.
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What is the purpose of conference committees?
STANDING COMMITTEES
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COMMITTEE CHAIRS
What is a standing committee?
• What is a committee chairman?
• permanent committees to which bills of a
• Members who head the standing committees
specific subject will be sent to
• Why is being named as committee chairman a very
What role do standing committees play?
strategic post?
• each bill gets the most thorough consideration
• Most of the work in Congress is done in the
when in committee
committees
What standing committees are more prominent and
• What do committee chairmen have a major say in?
influential in the House?
• They have a say in what bills are
• Rules
considered, whether to hold public
• Ways and Means
hearings, and what witnesses are to be
• Appropriations
called
• Armed Services
CONGRESSIONAL • What is the “seniority rule?”
The Senate?
• An unwritten rule that the most
COMMITTEES
• Foreign Relations
important positions in Congress
• Appropriations
are held by those with the most
• Finance
experience
• Judiciary
• List and explain 2 criticisms of the seniority system.
What does the House Rules Committee do?
• The system ignores ability – younger members
• It controls the flow of bills to the floor of the
with more knowledge on a subject might not
House and sets the conditions for their
get a chance
consideration
• Committee chairs often come from “safe”
What is the result of most bills in the committees to
districts – “safe” districts create a person that
which they are referred?
might be out of touch with current public
• Most bills die in the committees to which they
opinion
are referred
• List and explain 2 defenses of the seniority system.
Why is the House Rules Committee so powerful?
• Committee chairs are powerful and
• It can speed, delay, or prevent House action on
experienced – they know how to get work done
a measure
• Encourages people to stay on a committee –
create expertise
SELECT COMMITTEES
JOINT AND CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
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Why are “select committees” set up?
• Committees that are established for a specific
reason
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How are members of select committees chosen?
• Members of these committees are chosen by
the Speaker of the House and the president of
the Senate
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Describe an example of how a
select committee conducted an
investigation and the findings
and result of that investigation.
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What is a joint committee?
• A committee composed of members from both
the House of Reps. and the Senate
Provide AND explain an example of a joint
committee.
• Joint Committee on Taxation – studies the U.S.
tax system and presents it finding to the House
Ways and Means Committee and the Senate
Finance Committee
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES
Senate Watergate Committee
Investigated “illegal, improper, and unethical
activities were engaged in by any persons … in
the election of 1972.”
Formed a link in the events of Watergate that
led to the resignation of President Nixon
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What is the purpose of conference committees?
• A temporary committee established to iron out
the differences in a bill that both the House
and the Senate will accept