Congressional Committees

1. Congressional Committees

2. Congressional Committees • Standing committees • Select committees • Joint Committees • Conference Committees

3. 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

4. Post 1995 reform • Total committees- 198 • House • went from 22 to 19 standing committees • Went from 115 sub committees to 84

5. Post 1995 reform • Senate • Maintained the 17 committees • Reduced the number of sub committees from 86 to 68

6. 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

7. 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

8. Exclusive Committees • House of Reps • Limit a representative to one committee membership • Exclusive committees • Appropriations • Rules • Ways and Means

9. 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.

10. Committees • House and senate committees chart on pages 344-345 of the text

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Congressional Staff • Most members of congress have one local office • Half have two or more • Incumbent hard to beat because of this

15. Congressional Staff • Washington Staff members • Read 6000 bills, aid in the enactment of 600 laws per year • Write bills • Negotiate agreements • Organize hearings

16. 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

17. Staff Agencies • Agencies that work for Congress as a whole • Gives Congress specialized knowledge

18. 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

19. General Accounting Office • General Accounting Office (GAO) • Routine financial audits • Investigates agencies and policies • Makes recommendations on all aspects of government

20. 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

21. 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