Congress in Action
Chapter 12
COMMITTEES IN CONGRESSSection 2
Committees
– Standing committees- permanent panels that deal with subjects that routinely arise in the legislative process.
– Select committees- not permanent and are set up for a short time for a specific purpose.
– Joint committees- committees composed of members of both houses.
– Conference committees- joint committees created to settle differences in legislation between the houses.
Committee Chairs
• Chosen by the party• Decides when the committee will meet• Decides which bills will be worked on• Decides whether they will hold public hearings
or not• Decides what witnesses should be called• Manages debate over the bill on the House or
Senate floor.
Committee
AgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation and the WorkforceEnergy and CommerceEthicsFinancial ServicesForeign AffairsHomeland SecurityHouse AdministrationJudiciaryNatural ResourcesOversight and Government ReformRulesScience, Space, and TechnologySmall BusinessTransportation and InfrastructureVeterans’ AffairsWays and Means
Chair Name, Party, State
K. Michael Conway, Republican, TXHarold Rogers, Republican, KYMac Thornberry, Republican, TXTom Price, Republican, GAJohn Kline, Republican, MNFred Upton, Republican, MICharles W. Dent, Republican, PAJeb Hensarling, Republican, TXEdward R. Royce, Republican, CAMichael McCaul, Republican, TXCandice Miller, Republican, MIBob Goodlatte, Republican, VABob Bishop, Republican, UTJason Chaffetz, Republican, UTPete Sessions, Republican, TXLamar Smith, Republican, TXSteve Chabot, Republican, OHBill Shuster, Republican, PAJeff Miller, Republican, FLPaul Ryan, Republican, WI
House of Representatives
Committee
Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryAppropriationsArmed ServicesBanking, Housing, and Urban AffairsBudgetCommerce, Science, and TransportationEnergy and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental and Public WorksFinanceForeign RelationsHealth, Education, Labor, and PensionsHomeland Security and Governmental AffairsJudiciaryRules and AdministrationSmall Business and EntrepreneurshipVeterans’ Affairs
Chair Name, Party, State
Pat Roberts, Republican, KSThad Cochran, Republican, MSJohn McCain, Republican, AZRichard Shelby, Republican, ALMike Enzi, Republican, WYJohn Thune, Republican, SDLisa Murkowski, Republican, AKJim Inhofe, Republican, OKOrrin G. Hatch, Republican, UTBob Corker, Republican, TNLamar Alexander, Republican, TNRon Johnson, Republican, WIChuck Grassley, Republican, IARoy Blunt, Republican, MODavid Vitter, Republican, LAJohnny Isakson, Republican, GA
Senate
