1. Committee System

2. Seniority Rule
This custom (not a rule or law) says that the most important Congressional leadership roles go to the members who have served the longest
Seniors have privileges over Freshmen

3. Introduction to Committees
Chairperson
Committee Appointment
Appointment Considerations:
1. Background
2. Party Affiliation
3. Seniority Rule
Steering Committee
Committee on Committees

4. Types of Committees Standing Committee Select Committee
Joint Committee
Conference Committee

5. Standing Committee Permanent Committee
Specializes in one subject, and handles bills relating to that subject (subject matter)
May be broken down into smaller sub-committees

6. Example (U.S. Senate Committee)
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee
Western
Hemisphere
Near Eastern and South and Central Asia
African
Affairs
Eastern Asia and Pacific
European
Affairs
Sub Committees

7. Example (U.S. Senate Committee)
U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee
Committee
Air Land
Emerging threats and capabilities
Personnel
Readiness and Management Support
Sea
Power
Strategic
Forces
Sub Committees

8. House Standing Committees
Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Education/Workforce
Energy/Commerce
Financial Services
Government Reform
House Administration
International Relations
Judiciary
Resources
Rules
Science
Small Business
Standards of Conduct
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans Affairs
Ways and Means

9. Senate Standing Committees
Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Energy and Natural Resources
Environment and Public Works
Finance
Foreign Relations
Government Affairs
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Indian Affairs
Judiciary
Rules and Administration
Small Business
Veterans Affairs

10. US Senate (Select Committees)
Usually Temporary
Created for a specific purpose, such as conducting an investigation
Examples:
US Senate (Select Committees)
Select Committee on Aging
Select Committee on Intelligence
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

11. Joint Committee Permanent or Temporary
Includes members of both the House and Senate so that both houses do not duplicate work
Economic
Library
Printing
Taxation

12. Conference Committee Temporary Committee
Formed to work out a compromise on a bill when the House and Senate have passed different versions of the same bill

13. Caucuses
Caucuses are informal groups formed by members of Congress who share a common purpose or a set of goals. They elect the party leadership. Examples:
Congressional Black Caucus
Women’s Caucus
Democratic Caucus
Republican Caucus