Congressional committees serve several key purposes: they allow members to divide work into smaller groups focused on specific issues; committees select which bills merit further consideration; and through public hearings, committees inform the public about important issues. There are several types of committees: standing committees focus on broad policy areas continuously; select committees study single issues; joint committees coordinate work between the House and Senate; and conference committees work to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill.

1. Congressional Committees
Identify kinds of committees and
why members serve on them

2. Purpose of Committees
1. Allows members of Congress to divide
their work into smaller groups
2. Committees select which bills need
further consideration
3. Through public hearings, committees
inform the public about key issues facing
the nation
Committees · House.gov

3. Kinds of Committees
1. Standing Committees
2. Select Committees
3. Joint Committees
4. Conference Committees

4. Standing Committees
They continue from one Congress to the
next
Subcommittees- specialize in a subcategory
of its standing committee
Senate Standing Committees, 113th Congress | Infoplease.com

5. Select Committees
They study one specific issue and
report their findings to the Senate or
House
Examples: hunger, organized crime,
ethics, Indian affairs

6. Joint Committees
They serve as study groups that report their
findings back to the House and Senate
They are to coordinate the work of both
Houses of Congress
Joint Committee on Taxation

7. Conference Committees
They work to resolve the differences b/w
two versions of the same bill.
Members of the House and Senate sit on
this committee

8. The House Rules Committee
• The “traffic officer” in the
House
• Helps to direct the flow
of legislation
• Most powerful
committee
Power to…
• Move bills along quickly
• Hold them back
• Or, stop them
completely