COMMITTEE SYSTEM Flashcards
Features of a standing committee
Permanent
Each focus on one are of policy
Work done within sub-committees
parties represented in same proportion as the chamber it is in
Functions of a select committee
Committee stage of bills - hold hearings, questions and vote if it gets sent on
Investigations and oversight
Considering presidential appointments - senate only - Followed by a vote on the nominee
Significance of a standing committee
Hearings get media attention
Allow congress to manage a wide range of issues
System provides needed oversight
Features of a select committee
Most are temporary
Generally made up from members from one house
Functions of a select committee
Investigate a specific question
Prevent the relevant standing committee from being overloaded
Example of an investigation by a select committee
june 2021 the house voted to get a committee to investigate the capital attacks
Significance of select committees
provides focused scrutiny of important issues
Hold high profiled hearings
Example of a select committee being controversial
in july 2021 most house republicans boycotted the select committee on the capital attacks as the speaker didn’t allow certain republicans onto it
Features of the house rules committee
A standing committee in the house of reps
13 members
Favourites the majority party 2:1
Functions of the house rules committee
Sets the rules for bills - how long on the floor, whether amendments are allowed
Closed rules don’t allow amendments
Significance of the house of rules committee
The chairman is one of the most important roles in congress
Committee has enormous power
In the 115th congress 56 % of bills were under closed rules
How can you overrule a closed rule bill
A discharge petition of an absolute majority sign it
Features of a conference committee
Temporary
members from both houses
Functions of a conference committee
Considers the bills from both houses and puts them together
The bill is then sent back to the chambers
Significance of conference committees
Either chamber can vote against it
Party leaders try to avoid them by telling both houses to make the same amendments
Only 3 conference reports in the 116th congress
