Congress committees are integral to the government's legislative process They represent the working parts of Congress and are key in ensuring the decisions made by the US legislature are intelligent, informed, and well-thought-out. Congress committees are responsible for thoroughly researching a topic and making recommendations for legislation on the floor of Congress.
In the US Congress, there are four types of committees: standing, select, joint, and conference. Standing committees are established by the chamber and are permanent. These committees are the most active and powerful, as they are responsible for considering and reporting on most bills. Select committees are created to address special topics or issues; they are often temporary, and they tend to have limited membership and power. Joint committees are created when both the House and Senate create a committee to work together on a single issue. Conference committees are temporary and are created when the House and Senate disagree on a bill; the committee is responsible for creating a compromise.
Examples of Congress committees include:
1. The House Rules Committee: This long-standing committee is responsible for setting the rules and procedures for the House floor; they decide whether or not a bill can reach a vote, as well as how much time can be spent on debate and what amendments can be considered.
2. The Senate Intelligence Committee: This select committee oversees the US Intelligence Community and its activities. It is responsible for ensuring the intelligence community is compliant with the law, as well as conducting oversight into potential threats from foreign powers.
3. The Joint Committee on Taxation: This joint committee is tasked with providing analysis and reporting on taxation and the US tax code. It is composed of both House and Senate members and is responsible for researching possible tax law reforms on both chambers.
4. The Budget Conference Committee: This conference committee is specifically created when the House and Senate disagree on a budget resolution; the committee is charged with creating a compromise that is acceptable to both chambers.
5. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: This standing committee is responsible for setting US foreign policy, as well as overseeing US international relations. This committee is also responsible for approving any treaties or international agreements, such as trade deals.