LBR - Committees and Leadership Lesson
Committees and Leadership Lesson
Congressional Committees
Whether they become laws or not, bills begin and end their lives in committees. Committees help organize the most important work of Congress through the process of considering, shaping, and passing laws to govern the nation. Committees play key roles in floor debate about the bills they foster. Approximately 8,000 bills go to committees every year. Fewer than 10% actually make it out of the committees for consideration on the floor.
The Purpose of Committees in Congress
- Committees make work in Congress manageable by breaking down huge amounts of work into smaller sections.
- Committees narrow the amount of bills that are submitted to Congress every year. They help to select only the most important bills for consideration.
- Committees help educate the public by conducting investigations and holding public hearings on important issues that are occurring within the government.
Standing Committees in Congress
|
House |
Senate Committees |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Agriculture |
| Appropriations | Appropriations |
| Armed Services | Armed Services |
| Banking | Banking |
| Commerce | Commerce |
| Education | Education |
| Government Reform | Energy |
| Housing Administration | Environment |
| International Relations | Finance |
| Judiciary | Forestry |
| Resources | Government Affairs |
| Rules | Health |
| Science | Housing |
| Small Business | Indian Affairs |
| Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics) | Judiciary |
| Transportation and Infrastructure | Labor |
| Veterans Affairs | Pensions |
| Ways and Means | Rules and Administration |
| Science | |
| Transportation | |
| Urban Affairs |
How Are Committees Assigned?
Political parties assign new members of the House and Senate to standing committees following a congressional election. New members generally provide a recommendation. However, House and Senate leaders determine needs over preference.
Members of the house serve on one or two committees. In contrast, Senators serve on multiple committees and sub-committees. Committee assignment is one of the most important decisions for a new member's work in Congress. Members generally seek committees that will allow them to serve their state or district most directly.
How Do Committees Help Constituents?
Committees help pass laws that appropriate funding for localized projects in a representative's district. This is also referred to as pork barrel legislation. Constituents hope to get funding from committee members for localized projects in their area or district. Also, constituents believe that committee members work collaboratively to support each other's districts. This practice is referred to as logrolling. Logrolling is viewed as a negative practice because some constituents think that federal money is wasted on local projects. In contrast, Congressmen often send funds to local businesses in their district and important government agencies, such as the Department of Education, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture. In this case, politicians do not have control over the placement of funds. In order to get the funds sent to their district, politicians must work directly with corporations or agencies.
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