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U.S. Representatives Serve only their districts More homogenous constituencies Less inclined to compromise Frequent re-elections 20% from “marginal districts” 6 committee assignments
U.S. SenatorsServe their entire stateMore heterogeneous
constituenciesTherefore, more inclined to
compromise35% from “marginal districts”10 committee assignments
Importance of Committees
Most of the work in Congress gets completed in committees.
Committees are the workshops of Congress.
Formation of Committees House:
– Policy Committee selects standing committees and chairs
– Speaker nominates Rules Committee. Senate:
– Steering Committee selects standing committees and chairs
– Majority Leader nominates Steering Committee
– Majority Leader appoints Select Committees
Duties of Standing CommitteesDivide into subcommitteesReceive proposals for billsReceive bills on basis of subject
matterKill most proposals Process some into official billsBase hierarchies on seniority on
this committee
House Standing Committees Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and the
Workforce Energy and
Commerce Financial Services Gov’t Reform House Admin.
Internat’l RelationsJudiciaryResourcesRulesScienceSmall BusinessStandards of Official ConductTransportation and InfrastructureWays and Means
Senate Standing Committees– Agriculture,
Nutrition, Forestry– Appropriations– Armed Services– Banking, Housing,
& Urban Affairs– Budget Committee– Commerce, Science
& Transportation– Energy and Natural
Resources– Environment &
Public Works
– Finance Committee– Foreign Relations Committee– Governmental Affairs Committee– Judiciary Committee– Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee–Rules & Administration –Small Business –Veterans Affairs
Budget Committees Appropriations: How will U.S.
spend money to fund government agencies and programs?
Budget: How can we build a budget that balances requests from all agencies?
Ways and Means: How will we raise funds to pay for agencies and programs? Tax issue
Rules CommitteeDecides order in which
bills come up for a voteDetermines specific
rules governing length of debate
Determines if bills can be amended from floor
House/Senate Joint Committees–Economic
–Library
–Printing
–Taxation
–Conference Committees
(Closed to public)
Committee ChairpersonsSelect subcommittee membersAppoint committee staffs (2000
total) (Powers diluted in last decades
–Many subcommittees
–Each members has his/her staffHelp determine hearing schedules
Budget Committees:Appropriations: How will we spend
money raised by taxes & other sources
Budget: How will money be allotted between agencies and programs?
Finance: How will we fund programs?
Both Houses: Personal Staffs1930
–House 870–Senate 280
1993–House 7,400–Senate 4,138
Work in Home State and D.C. Offices
Both Houses: Staff Agencies Congressional Research Service (CRS) (Performs research for legislators) General Accounting Office (GAO) (Congress can investigate financial and
administrative affairs of any federal program/agency)
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (Assess the economic implications and
likely cost of proposed federal programs)
Both Houses: CaucusesGroups of members who share
certain–Opinions–Interests–Social Characteristics
Strategize to advance certain causes