Introduction
In his book Congressional Government Woodrow Wilson wrote: “it is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work” (29). For more than 200 years, the Congressional Committee system has been the stem and the foundation of legislative process in the U.S. In simple terms, the Committee system can be called “the eye, the hand, and the brain” of Congress. Throughout the American history, the role of committees has gradually evolved, to form a complex network of legislative bodies, which have turned into the blood system of the American Congressional system.
The Committee System is the central element of Congress’ organizational structure. The committees are called for facilitating all types of legislative processes in Congress. Since 1789, Congress has used the committees as the instruments that substantially improved the quality of legislative decision-making. With time, and after the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the committees have become the heart, the blood, and the brain of today’s Congress (Deering & Smith 39). Generally, the Committee System was designed to perform numerous oversight, administrative, and certainly legislative functions. Now, “within assigned subject areas, committees and subcommittees gather information; compare and evaluate legislative alternatives; identify policy problems and propose solutions to them; select, determine the text of, and report out measures for the full chambers to consider” (Deering & Smith 47). Ultimately, the Committee System controls the quality of executive branch’s performance, and is actively involved into investigating the allegations of wrongdoing. It is not rare that committees become the gatekeepers that determine specific policies and issues to be considered in Congress. Committees possess sufficient authority to follow up various policy proposals and to oversee the issues in the process of different policies’ implementation (United States Senate).
The current Congressional System of Committees is unique among the rest of international legislatures: committees have significant legislative authorities and hold significant administrative powers. Currently, the Senate distributes its legislative tasks among 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and 4 joint committees (United States Senate). In many aspects, the Senate’s Committee System is similar to that of the House of Representatives; yet, each works according to their specific rules and guidelines. Within their areas of responsibility, the committees act independently; as a result, party leaders often face a challenging task to integrate the efforts of several different committees into one single decision-making framework. Now, the Congressional committees are roughly divided into the three broad categories, with each having a clear set of legislative tasks, objectives, and functions.
Standing committees are the permanent structural elements of the American Congressional system. These types of committees have legislative jurisdiction. Standing committees are responsible for considering bills, and overseeing programs and agencies within their limited areas of responsibility. They are authorized to recommend the appropriate funding for government operations, and are free to express their opinions in regard to taxation, revenues, veterans’ pensions, etc. (Deering & Smith 80). Select committees “are usually established by a separate resolution of the parent chamber, sometimes to conduct investigations and studies, sometimes to consider measures” (Deering & Smith 86). A select committee is an effective supplementary element of the standing committee’s legislative activity: when a standing committee is no longer capable of addressing specific issues, or when the need for investigation arises, select committees may substantially facilitate the process of taking the most appropriate and correct legislative decision. Ultimately, joint committees are formed by the members of both Congressional chambers, and are called for performing various housekeeping tasks (Deering & Smith 93).
The Congressional Committee System is organized hierarchically, where subcommittees work under full standing committees, but nevertheless have their own areas of authority. Subcommittees are assigned an array of legislative tasks, but they are not allowed to cross the boundaries of their parent committees’ jurisdiction. The number, the autonomy and interdependence of subcommittees usually vary between parent committees (United States Senate).
The responsibility for organizing committees in Congress is usually shouldered on party leaders. The latter determine the committees’ size and the ratio of majority / minority members in each. “Each party is primarily responsible for choosing its committee leaders and assigning its Members to committees” (Deering & Smith 33). However, the structure of a committee would be incomplete, if not for the external aides. The aides provide committees with analytical, amending, and even writing support. Within the limits of the prescribed funds, committees are free to hire additional staff; now, more than 2,000 professional aides provide the existing committees with technical and legislative support (Deering & Smith 40).
Congressional committees fulfill a number of legislative functions. A new bill is immediately referred to the appropriate committee for consideration. Committees are free to hold hearings, to receive the testimony and to hear the opinions of those who are not on the committee. The committee can either recommend the bill to the chamber or bury it without consideration. The committees are responsible for bringing the harmony into the legislative process; in other words, the committees must seek agreement to guarantee that the House and the Senate pass identical versions of Bills. Although committees may seem to have unlimited legislative powers, their jurisdictions do not extend beyond the need for considering the bills on the floor; nevertheless, this consideration is actually the key to the stability of all legislative initiatives brought into and passed by Congress.
Conclusion
The Congressional Committee System is called for maintaining the stability of legislative performance in Congress. The Committee System is the blood system of Congress – its heart, brain, and hands. The Committee System is characterized by a strict hierarchical structure. The committees act within the limits of the prescribed jurisdictions and funds. The committees are the instruments that streamline all legislative processes in Congress in a balanced and reasonable manner.
Works Cited
Deering, C.J. & Smith, S.S. Committees in Congress. CQ Press, 1997.
United States Senate. “About the Senate Committee System.” 2008. United States Senate. 15
December 2008. http://www.senate.gov/general/common/generic/about_committees.htm
Wilson, W. Congressional Government. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press,
1981.
