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![handle is hein.crs/crsaaqh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code 98-241 GOV
Updated November 26, 2008
Committee Types and Roles
Valerie Heitshusen
Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process
Government and Finance Division
Structure of the Committee System
Congress divides its legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks among
more than 200 committees and subcommittees. Within assigned areas, these functional
subunits gather information; compare and evaluate legislative alternatives; identify policy
problems and propose solutions; select, determine, and report measures for full chamber
consideration; monitor executive branch performance (oversight); and investigate
allegations of wrongdoing. For more information on legislative process, see
[http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml].l
The 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act (60 Stat. 812) sets the framework for the
modern committee system. The act organized the Senate and House committees along
roughly parallel lines, but divergences have emerged over time. Within the guidelines of
chamber rules, each committee adopts its own rules addressing organizational, structural,
and procedural issues. As a consequence, there is considerable variation among panels
and across chambers.
By the conclusion of the 110'h Congress, there were 20 standing committees in the
House with 99 subcommittees, and three select committees.2 The Senate has 16 standing
committees with 72 subcommittees, as well as four select or special committees.3 In
addition, there are four joint committees.
1 This report was originally written by Thomas P. Carr, formerly an analyst in American National
Government at CRS. The listed author has updated this report and is available to respond to
inquiries on the subject.
2 One of the select committees - the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence -
operates, in many ways, like a permanent standing committee; it has four subcommittees. The
two temporary select committees created during the 110th Congress - the Select Committee on
Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Select Committee on the Voting Irregularities
of August 2, 2007 - have no subcommittees.
' Three of these select or special committees - Indian Affairs, the Select Committee on Ethics,
and the Special Committee on Aging - have no subcommittees; the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence has one.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsaaqh0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)