Congressional Committees. Standing committees Select committees Joint Committees Conference Committees.

Congressional Committees

Congressional Committees

• Standing committees• Select committees• Joint Committees• Conference Committees

Congressional Committees

• 104th congress (1995-1996)• Contract with America• Reduced number of committees in

both houses• 103rd congress-252 committees• 84th congress (1955-1956) 242

committees

Post 1995 reform

• Total committees- 198

• House • went from 22 to 19 standing

committees• Went from 115 sub committees to 84

Post 1995 reform

• Senate• Maintained the 17 committees• Reduced the number of sub

committees from 86 to 68

Party in committee

• The majority party maintains the majority of the seats in each committee

• The majority party determines the chair of the committee ( HR-6 year limit)

• Ratio is roughly the same as the total congressional house

Standing Committees

• Most important-• Propose legislation by reporting a bill

out to the full house or senate• House members serve on two

committees• An exception is if one is on an exclusive

committee

• Each Senator may serve on two major and one minor committee

Exclusive Committees

• House of Reps• Limit a representative to one

committee membership• Exclusive committees

• Appropriations• Rules• Ways and Means

Committee rules

• House• Chair elected by secret ballot in party

caucus• No member chairs more than one

committee• All committees with more than 20 members

must have 4 subcommittees• Increase committee and personal staffs• Committee meetings public unless members

vote it closed.

Committee Rules

• Senate

• Committee meetings public unless members vote to close them

• Committee chairs selected by secret ballot at the request of 1/5th of the party

• Committees to have larger staffs

Congressional Staffs

• In 1998 average representatives had 17 staffers and senators had 40.

• 103rd congress- 10,000 personal staffers• 3000 more employed with congressional

committees• 3000 more employed in congressional

research agencies• Largest growing part of bureaucracy

Congressional Staff

• Personal staffer duty-• Answering mail• Handling problems• Mailing newsletters• Meeting with constituents

• 1/3 of staff is local• Task is to get votes

Congressional Staff

• Most members of congress have one local office

• Half have two or more• Incumbent hard to beat because of

this

Congressional Staff

• Washington Staff members• Read 6000 bills, aid in the enactment of

600 laws per year

• Write bills• Negotiate agreements• Organize hearings

Congressional Staff

• Write questions for members to ask witnesses

• Draft reports• Meet with lobbyists and

administrators• Meet with mass media• Promote bosses• Find and promote legislation

Staff Agencies

• Agencies that work for Congress as a whole

• Gives Congress specialized knowledge

Congressional Research Service• Congressional Research service (CRS)

• Part of the Library of Congress• Employs over 900 people• Answers questions for Congress members• Over ¼ million questions per year• Politically neutral• Keeps track of major bill status • Gives summaries of all bills- stored

electronically

General Accounting Office

• General Accounting Office (GAO)• Routine financial audits• Investigates agencies and policies• Makes recommendations on all

aspects of government

GAO

• Comptroller general- head of agency

• Appointed by the President• Serves 15 year term• GAO employs 5000 people• Some members permanently

assigned to work with committees

Congressional Budget Office• Congressional Budget office (CBO)

• Created in 1974• Advises Congress on the possible economic

effects of spending programs• Provides information on the cost of

proposed legislation• Prepares analysis of President’s budget and

economic projections • Aids Congress in budget debates