The Legislative Branch

The Committee System & Support Agencies

The Committee System•Most work of Congress takes

place in committees•There are (at least) 35 standing

committees and many subcommittees

•Each headed by a committee chair•Chairs are chosen by the majority

party and have the most seniority• (Not absolute)

The Committee System• Not at first Congress• Standing Committee: permanent

comm. w/responsibility for a particular area of policy

• Ex: specializing in agriculture, commerce, foreign policy, budget

• They have legislative, investigative, and oversight powers

• Under these are subcommittees• comm. necessary b/c of # of bills

proposed, ease workload, key power c.

The Ways and Means Committee

What is the purpose of the Ways and Means committee?

Is it large?

Decentralization•Protects and enhances the

interests of individuals, but at cost of a slowly acting Congress.

•1970’s•Decrease in power of committee

chairs, increase of those in subcommittees, sub. chairs, individuals

•Result: secret ballot, may chair no more than one standing comm.

Oligarchy or Democracy?• 1995: House Republicans gave

committee chairs more power re. appointment

• This gave them more control over legislation (oligarchic)

• Reversed the House reforms of the 1970’s (democratic), members no longer needing seniority

• less democratic!• 1995 reforms made leaders rely

upon party members

Are Committee chairs too important?

House Finance Services Committee Chair, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) talking with reporters about the proposed $700B “Bailout

Bill”

2008

Types of Committees•Subcommittees: Are part of

standing, continue from one session to next.

•Ex: Under Ways & Means- Health, Human Resources, Social Security, Trade

•Select Committee: temporary (may be renewed). To study one specific issue & report findings

•Tend to look at big problems to public -ex. Watergate, Autism

Types of Committees• Joint Committees: composed of

members of both houses, perform advisory or coordinating functions

•Ex: Conference Committees: formed temporarily to work out differences in H & S versions of bill

Which do you think are the heavyweight committees in the House?

Why are committees important?• The real work of Congress is done • Most bills are “killed” here• Getting on right committee is

crucial!• Ex: to serve constituents, wield

power, increase re-election chances• For House: Rules, Ways and Means• For Senate: Finance,

Appropriations, JudiciaryThings heat up in the Senate Judiciary Committee

when scrutinizing nominees for the SC

Committee Power•Usually, the full chamber of

Congress votes to confirm decisions by committees

•90% approval chance, they are experts in field, yet many amended

•Only 10% of bills reach the floor, most will be die in comm.

Committee Membership•majority party holds majority #

seats•Key power centers•House members often serve on

two, Senate often four•Biggest changes occur when

party loses control of H or S (2006!)

Diversity see with Dems.

Changes in Legislation•1994 the Republican majority

passed term rules on H Comm. Chairs (6 yrs.) and reduced # of comm. and staff.

Support Agencies:•Growth of Executive gave Leg.

Branch a distinct disadvantage•Solution: three agencies•GAO: largest. Overseeing

executive agencies spending of money, responsibility has broadened

•CRS: oldest and part of Library of Congress, reference, providing reports and summaries of bills

Support Agencies:•CBO: newest, provides Congress

with projections of the economy + govt. expenditures and revenues

•Now Congress a stronger policymaking bodyThe Ford Building: Location of CBO