Congressional Committees: Types, Roles, and Processes

Committee

A small group of members of Congress that focuses on specific issues and helps review and write bills

Standing Committee

A permanent committee that focuses on a specific policy area and handles most legislation

Select Committee

A temporary committee created to investigate or study a specific issue

Joint Committee

A committee made up of members from both the House and Senate, usually advisory

Conference Committee

A temporary committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

Committee Chair

The leader of a committee from the majority party who controls the agenda and hearings

Majority Party

The political party with the most members in a chamber and more power in committees

Minority Party

The political party with fewer members in a chamber

Gatekeeping

The power of committees or committee chairs to decide whether a bill moves forward or dies

Bill Markup

The process where committee members debate, amend, and rewrite a bill

Hearings

Meetings where committees gather information and question experts or officials

Logrolling

When members of Congress trade support for each other's bills to gain votes

Informal Grouping

A non-official group of members with shared interests, also called a caucus

Caucus

An informal group of members who work together to influence policy

Specialization

The idea that members focus on specific topics through committee work

Seniority System

The practice where longer-serving members get better committee positions or leadership

Efficiency

Committees make Congress work faster by dividing labor

Bill Dies in Committee

When a committee chooses not to act on a bill, stopping it from becoming law

House Committee

Committees that operate only in the House of Representatives

Senate Committee

Committees that operate only in the Senate