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The Committee System

The Committee System. Congress breaks all issues down into committees Smaller groups that can focus on specific topics Education Defense Agriculture 2 Goals of committees: Go over each bill before they are voted on Oversee performance of agencies. Types of Committees. 2 basic types :

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The Committee System

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  1. The Committee System • Congress breaks all issues down into committees • Smaller groups that can focus on specific topics • Education • Defense • Agriculture • 2 Goals of committees: • Go over each bill before they are voted on • Oversee performance of agencies

  2. Types of Committees • 2 basic types: • Authorizing committee • Establish government policy • Example: • Give financial aid to all college students • Appropriations committee • Deal with how policies will be paid for • Example: • How do we pay for financial aid? • $$$$$

  3. Section 4 Purposes of Committees • The committee system serves three important purposes: • It allows members of Congress to divide their work among many smaller groups. • Committees select which of the bills introduced into Congress are to receive further consideration. • By holding public hearings and investigations, committees help the public learn about key problems facing the nation.

  4. Section 4 Kinds of Committees • Congress has four kinds of committees: • Standing committeesare permanent groups that oversee bills that deal with certain kinds of issues. • Subcommitteesspecialize in a subcategory of its standing committee’s responsibilities. Standing Committees of Congress

  5. Section 4 Kinds of Committees (cont.) • Select committees are temporary committees that study one specific issue and report their findings to the Senate or the House. • Joint committees are committees that are made up of members from both the House and the Senate. • Conference committeesare temporary committees that are set up when the House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill.

  6. Committees within Committees…

  7. Committee Assignments • Some committees are very important • Appropriations committee • Deal with all of the $$$ • Armed Services Committee • Get to make decisions about military • Foreign Relations • Get to travel a lot! • How do we pick who gets to be in charge of these committees? • Seniority system • Majority party picks committee “chairpersons” by length of time served in committee

  8. Can Congress members work on multiple committees? • Yes! • Most “senior” Congress members serve on multiple committees • Shows how strong they are in Congress • John McCain (R) • Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee • Committee on • Health • Education • Labor • Pensions • Homeland Security • Governmental Affairs • Indian Affairs

  9. How do Congress members make time for all of that work? • They have a personal staff to do it for them! • Senators • Get 100 staff members per committee • H of Reps • Get 80-100 staff members per committee

  10. Other Agencies That Help Committees OutCongressional Budget Office (CBO)

  11. Other Agencies That Help Committees OutGeneral Accounting Office

  12. Other Agencies That Help Committees Out Library of Congress

  13. Can committees write laws? • Yes….

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