Congressional Committees Congressional Committees Standing

Congressional Committees

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

Congressional Committees • 104 th congress (1995 -1996) • Contract with America • Reduced number of committees in both houses • 103 rd congress-252 committees • 84 th 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 1/5 th of the party • Committees to have larger staffs

Congressional Staffs • In 1998 average representatives had 17 staffers and senators had 40. • 103 rd 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

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

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