What do committees do?

Committees in Congress review bills, hold hearings on specific policy topics, and oversee the executive branch within their areas of jurisdiction. Committees are the workhorses of Congress, where most of the detailed legislative work happens before bills come to the full chamber for debate and a vote. Each chamber of Congress has standing committees, which are permanent panels with specific subject matter jurisdiction. The House has 20 standing committees, including powerful ones such as Appropriations, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and Judiciary. The Senate has 16 standing committees, including Appropriations, Finance, Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Judiciary. There are also select committees, which are temporary panels created to investigate specific issues, and joint committees, which include members from both chambers.

When a bill is introduced, it is referred to one or more committees with jurisdiction. The committee chair, always a member of the majority party, controls the committee's agenda and decides whether to hold hearings on the bill. If the committee proceeds, it typically holds hearings to gather expert testimony, consider amendments to the bill (called markup), and vote on whether to recommend the bill to the full chamber. Most bills die in committee without ever receiving committee action.

Committees also conduct oversight of executive agencies within their jurisdiction. Through hearings, document requests, and investigations, committees can question agency officials, examine spending decisions, investigate problems and misconduct, and recommend legislative or administrative changes. Major oversight investigations have shaped American history, including the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973, the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987, the September 11 Commission, and various congressional investigations of recent administrations.

Senate committees have an additional role in confirming presidential appointments to executive and judicial positions in their areas of jurisdiction. The Senate Judiciary Committee, for example, conducts confirmation hearings for federal judges, including Supreme Court nominees. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee handles ambassadors and treaties. Other committees handle Cabinet officials and senior officials in their respective policy areas.

Committee assignments are highly sought after by members of Congress because they shape policy influence. Members who serve on the most powerful committees, such as Senate Finance or House Ways and Means, gain significant influence over national policy. Committee chairs and ranking members (the senior minority party member) wield substantial authority. Committees employ professional staff, including lawyers, policy analysts, and subject-matter experts, who help members understand technical issues and draft legislation.