This document describes different types of congressional committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate. Standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by rules, while subcommittees are composed of members of larger committees and report to them. Select or special committees are appointed for specific functions beyond standing committees' authority. Joint committees have members from both chambers, and conference committees are appointed to resolve disagreements on bills between the House and Senate. Examples of each type are provided.

1. Committee Type Description House Example Senate Example
Standing
Committee
permanent
legislative panels
established by
the United States
House of
Representatives
and United
States Senate
rules
Agriculture Appropriations
SubCommittee a committee
composed of
some members
of a larger
committee,
board, or other
body and
reporting to it.
Commerce,
Manufacturing, and
Trade
Permanent
Subcommittee on
Investigations
Select or Special
Committee
a congressional
committee
appointed to
perform a
special function
that is beyond
the authority or
capacity of a
standing
committee.
Permanent Select
Committee on
Intelligence
Select Committee
On Ethics
Joint Committee a committee
made up of
members of both
chambers of a
bicameral
legislature. In
other contexts, it
refers to a
committee with
members from
more than one
organization.
Joint Committee on
Printing
Joint Committee on
Taxation

2. Conference
Committee
a committee of
the Congress
appointed by the
House of
Representatives
and Senate to
resolve
disagreements
on a particular
bill. The
conference
committee is
usually
composed of
senior Members
of the standing
committees of
each House that
originally
considered the
legislation.