There are several types of committees in Congress, including standing committees, select committees, conference committees, party committees, and joint committees. Standing committees are permanent policy specialists committees, such as those focused on armed services or judiciary. There are 34 standing committees total between the House and Senate. Select committees are typically ad hoc and investigative in nature, focusing on specific issues like Hurricane Katrina or Watergate. They have power to subpoena evidence and witnesses. Committee roles include shaping legislation, oversight of government agencies, and confirmation of presidential appointments.

1. Committees in CongressCommittees in Congress

2. TypesTypes
 Standing committeesStanding committees
 Select committeesSelect committees
 Conference committeesConference committees
 Party committeesParty committees
 Joint committeesJoint committees
 Last two types tend to be organisational andLast two types tend to be organisational and
proceduralprocedural

3. Standing Committees in USStanding Committees in US
&UK&UK
 Ad hocAd hoc
 Built in govt majorityBuilt in govt majority
 WhippedWhipped
 Collective identity lessCollective identity less
likely to developlikely to develop
 Use of guillotineUse of guillotine
 Hindered by lack of powerHindered by lack of power
to obtain evidence fromto obtain evidence from
outside interestsoutside interests
 Permanent, policy specialistPermanent, policy specialist
–armed services, judiciary–armed services, judiciary
 34 committees -18 in House34 committees -18 in House
and 16 in Senateand 16 in Senate
 Principal role to not onlyPrincipal role to not only
consider & amendconsider & amend
legislation but also involvedlegislation but also involved
in scrutiny of govt agenciesin scrutiny of govt agencies
 Expertise-call witnessesExpertise-call witnesses
from a variety of sourcesfrom a variety of sources
 Not passive bodies waitingNot passive bodies waiting
for policy proposals-mayfor policy proposals-may
draft bills themselvesdraft bills themselves

4. RoleRole
 Permanent and policy specialist- will wish toPermanent and policy specialist- will wish to
join committees that have a connection withjoin committees that have a connection with
their constituents interests eg. Agriculture -their constituents interests eg. Agriculture -
Mid West and SouthMid West and South
 Strategic role in legislation – comes beforeStrategic role in legislation – comes before
second reading and able to shape the bill at thesecond reading and able to shape the bill at the
start of the legislative process; power ofstart of the legislative process; power of
amendment and power to kill a bill byamendment and power to kill a bill by
pigeonholing it.pigeonholing it.

5. RoleRole
 Power to obstruct legislation is not quitePower to obstruct legislation is not quite
total.total.
 Discharge rule only implemented when anDischarge rule only implemented when an
absolute majority are in favour (218). egabsolute majority are in favour (218). eg
campaign finance reform billcampaign finance reform bill
 Scrutiny role – members of the executiveScrutiny role – members of the executive
branch can be called to account eg 2005branch can be called to account eg 2005
members of Bush’s Cabinet made 67members of Bush’s Cabinet made 67
appearances – Secretary of the Treasuryappearances – Secretary of the Treasury
appeared this year before Senateappeared this year before Senate

6. RoleRole
 Confirm appointments – The ConstitutionConfirm appointments – The Constitution
gives Senate exclusive power to advise andgives Senate exclusive power to advise and
consent to numerous appointments made byconsent to numerous appointments made by
the Presidentthe President
 Senate Judiciary Committee – recentSenate Judiciary Committee – recent
recommendations – Roberts, Alito andrecommendations – Roberts, Alito and
confirmed by Senate showing power of suchconfirmed by Senate showing power of such
committees in shaping decisions on the floorcommittees in shaping decisions on the floor
of the House.of the House.

7. House Rules CommitteeHouse Rules Committee
 Most influential committee –timetablingMost influential committee –timetabling
committee determining the fate of proposedcommittee determining the fate of proposed
legislationlegislation
 Sets time limits for floor debate and decidesSets time limits for floor debate and decides
which amendments can be offered and if sowhich amendments can be offered and if so
which ones.which ones.
 Closed rule – no amendments allowed to theClosed rule – no amendments allowed to the
bill. House leadership see these as way ofbill. House leadership see these as way of
keeping tight control on its legislative agenda.keeping tight control on its legislative agenda.

8. House Rules CommitteeHouse Rules Committee
 Open rule allows amendments – tend to beOpen rule allows amendments – tend to be
more common in times of divided governmentmore common in times of divided government
– president’s party tries to make bipartisan– president’s party tries to make bipartisan
deals.deals.
 Closed rules common when one party controlsClosed rules common when one party controls
both branches - tries to steamroll legislationboth branches - tries to steamroll legislation
throughthrough
 Gatekeeper of all major legislation .Gatekeeper of all major legislation .

9. Select Committees – US & UKSelect Committees – US & UK
 InvestigatorInvestigator
 Not whipped?Not whipped?
 Bi partisanBi partisan
 PermanentPermanent
 Except for PAC purelyExcept for PAC purely
backbenchersbackbenchers
 Acquire expertiseAcquire expertise
 Have ‘authority’Have ‘authority’
 Media attention?Media attention?
 Investigative & specialInvestigative & special
 Autonomous &Autonomous &
independentindependent
 Ad hocAd hoc
 Influential members ofInfluential members of
CongressCongress
 Power to subpoenaPower to subpoena
evidence & witnessesevidence & witnesses
 Media attentionMedia attention

10. Select committeesSelect committees
 Most are ad hoc – set up when a matterMost are ad hoc – set up when a matter
requiring congressional investigation eitherrequiring congressional investigation either
cuts across the policy areas of more than onecuts across the policy areas of more than one
standing committee or the investigation isstanding committee or the investigation is
likely to take too long for a standinglikely to take too long for a standing
committeecommittee

11. Examples of Select CommitteesExamples of Select Committees
 September 2005 - House of RepresentativesSeptember 2005 - House of Representatives
approved a SC to investigate the preparationapproved a SC to investigate the preparation
for and response to Hurricane Katrina byfor and response to Hurricane Katrina by
federal, state and local authorities. Identifiedfederal, state and local authorities. Identified
failures at all levels.failures at all levels.
 Other prominent examples include – SenateOther prominent examples include – Senate
Select committee on Watergate 1973; Iran –Select committee on Watergate 1973; Iran –
Contra affair – conducted by a special 26Contra affair – conducted by a special 26
member committee including members of bothmember committee including members of both
houses -1987; 1995 Waco tragedy.houses -1987; 1995 Waco tragedy.