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