Thread by @didikins4life

#BackToSchool With all the investigations and coverage of House/Senate Committees, it’s important to review how it all works, how it’s structured & what it all means. What do Congressional Committees do? How are members selected?
open.lib.umn.edu/americangovern… 1/18

In 1885, Woodrow Wilson famously observed, “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work” (Wilson, 1885). This statement is no less true today. 2/18 #demswork4usa #Congress

Committees are the lifeblood of Congress. They develop legislation, oversee executive agencies and programs, and conduct investigations.
There are different types of committees that are responsible for particular aspects of congressional work. 3/18 #demswork4usa #Congress

Standing committees are permanent legislative committees. Select committees are special committees that are formed to deal with a particular issue or policy. 4/18 #Congress #backtoschool #demswork4usa

Special committees can investigate problems and issue reports. Joint committees are composed of members of the House and Senate and handle matters that require joint jurisdiction, such as the #USPS Subcommittees handle specialized aspects of legislation and policy. 5/18

Members seek assignments to committees considering the overlapping goals of getting reelected, influencing policy, and wielding power and influence. 6/18 #Congress #demswork4usa #backtoschool

Members can promote the interests of their constituencies through committee service and at the same time help their chances at reelection. 7/18 #Congress #CongressionalCommittees

Members from rural districts desire appointments to the Agriculture Committee where they can best influence farm policy. 8/18 #Congress #CongressionalCommittees #demswork4usa

Those most interested in foreign policy seek appointment to committees such as the House Foreign Relations and Senate International Affairs Committees, where they can become embroiled in the pressing issues of the day. 9/18 #Congress #demswork4usa

Power or prestige committee assignments in the House include Appropriations, Budget, Commerce, Rules, and Ways and Means. The most powerful committees in the Senate are Appropriations, Armed Services, Commerce, Finance, and Foreign Relations. 10/18 #Congress #demswork4usa

Most House members end up getting assigned to at least one committee that they request. In the House, committee assignments can be a ticket to visibility and influence. 11/18 #Congress #demswork4usa #backtoschool #PolySci

Committees provide House members with a platform for attracting media attention as journalists will seek them out as policy specialists. Senate assignments are not as strongly linked to press visibility as virtually every senator is appointed to at least 1 powerful committee. 12

The average senator serves on eleven committees and subcommittees, while the average House member serves on five. 13/18 #CongressionalCommittees #PoliSci #BackToSchool

Committees are powerful gatekeepers. They decide the fate of bills by determining which ones will move forward and be considered by the full House and Senate. 14/18 #Congress #Committees #Politics #demswork4usa

Committee members have tremendous influence over the drafting and rewriting of legislation. They have access to experts and information, which gives them an advantage when debating bills on the floor. 15/18 #CongressionalCommittees #PoliSci #demswork4usa

Committee chairs are especially influential, as they are able to employ tactics that can make or break bills. Powerful chairs master the committee’s subject matter, get to know committee members well, and form coalitions to back their positions. 16/18 #Congress #PoliSci

Chairs can reward cooperative members and punish those who oppose them by granting or withholding favors, such as supporting pork barrel legislation that will benefit a member’s district. 17/18
#Congress #Committees #PoliSci

Most committee work receives limited media coverage. Investigative hearings are the exception, as they can provide opportunities for high drama. 18/18 #Congress #investigation #Committees #demswork4usa