1. Congressional Committees

2. Purpose of Committees To divide work of Congress into smaller specialized groups To select bills that will be allowed to move forward To hold public hearings and investigations

3. General Truths About All Committees Party in power selects chairperson Membership in each committee is divided in proportion to percentage of control in House/Senate All committees have subcommittees

4. Members of Congress fight for certain chairperson positions. Chairpersons often have great power. Certain committees are more prestigious. Each member of Congress can only serve on a limited number of committees. General Truths About All Committees

5. Unwritten Rule: Seniority System General Truths About All Committees

6. Kinds of Committees Standing Committees Subcommittees Select Committees Joint Committees Conference Committees

7. Standing Committees They are permanent committees. They represent major areas of government.

8. Subcommittees Work with a smaller part of the larger committee’s responsibilities. These subcommittees are usually permanent but change occasionally.

9. Subcommittee Example Ways and Means Committee Health Human Resources Oversight Select Revenue Measures Social Security Trade

10. Select Committees Usually created to study one specific issue Usually deal with some large issue of great concern Usually temporary Purpose: Investigate and report findings to House or Senate

11. Joint Committees Have members from both House and Senate Serve as study groups Report findings to House and Senate Limited authority since representing both House and Senate

12. Conference Committees Members from both House and Senate Temporary – for one bill only Only Job = Negotiate the final form of a bill Report the bill back to both House and Senate

13. Powerful Committees House Rules Ways and Means (taxation, tariffs and other revenue raising legislation) Appropriations (where the money goes, how much) Senate Foreign Relations Finance (like the Ways and Means, but also deals with Social Security) Appropriations

14. Support Agencies Library of Congress –Congressional Research Service (CRS) Congressional Budget Office (CBO) General Accounting Office (GAO) Government Printing Office (GPO)

15. Group Work When was it established? What is an interesting fact about it? What kind of staff does it have and what do are their responsibilities? What is its purpose? Your group will share it with the class so everyone in your group must know the information above.

16. Library of Congress –Established in 1800’s to purchase books as may be necessary for Congress. –One of the largest in the world with over 100 Million items. Include: books, journals, music, films, photographs and maps. –Congressional Research Service (CRS): Their staff answers thousands of requests for information from lawmakers.

17. Congressional Budget Office CBO –Established in 1974 to coordinate the budget- making work of Congress study the budget proposals put forward by the President each year. –It is a counterbalance to the Executives budget making organization. –Staff studies: Economic trends, how much Congressional Committees are spending, and prepare a report on budget each April.

18. General Accounting Office GAO –Established in 1921 –“nations watch dog” over spending of funds Congress Appropriates. –Agency has 3,300 people What do they do? –Review financial management of Government programs –Testify before committees, Develop questions for committee hearings, and provide legal opinions on bills under Consideration.