1. Chapter 6.2 Congressional Committees
Congress has almost an impossible job:
Make laws for a nation of 310,000,000 people.
50 states
3143 counties
38,201 cities
Can you imagine the vast number of issues?

2. The Committee System Congress breaks all issues down into committees
Smaller groups that can focus on specific topics
Education
Defense
Agriculture
2 Goals of committees:
Go over each bill before they are voted on
Oversee performance of agencies

3. Types of Committees 2 basic types: Authorizing committee
Establish government policy
Example:
Give financial aid to all college students
Appropriations committee
Deal with how policies will be paid for
How do we pay for financial aid?
$$$$$
Standing committees= 16 senate 20 house

4. Types of Committees 2 basic types: Standing committees
are permanent panels identified as such in chamber rules
20 House, 16 Senate
Joint committees
Include members from both chambers
Special or select committees
are established to conduct investigations and studies, and, on other occasions, also to consider measures.
Standing committees= 16 senate 20 house

5. Committees within Committees…

6. Committee Assignments
Some committees are very important
Appropriations committee
Deal with all of the $$$
Armed Services Committee
Get to make decisions about military
Foreign Relations
Get to travel a lot!
How do we pick who gets to be in charge of these committees?
Seniority system
Majority party picks committee “chairpersons” by length of time served in committee
Can Congress members work on multiple committees?
Yes!
Most “senior” Congress members serve on multiple committees
Shows how strong they are in Congress
John McCain (R)
Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee
Committee on
Health
Education
Labor
Pensions
Homeland Security
Governmental Affairs
Indian Affairs

7. How do Congress members make time for all of that work?
They have a personal staff to do it for them!
Senators
Get 100 staff members per committee
H of Reps
Get staff members per committee

8. Other Agencies That Help Committees Out Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

9. Other Agencies That Help Committees Out General Accounting Office

10. Other Agencies That Help Committees Out Library of Congress

11. So these committees make laws?
Yes….but that’s a story for another day.