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![handle is hein.crs/crsaaqi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code 98-242 GOV
Updated April 15, 2008
Committee Jurisdiction and
Referral in the Senate
Judy Schneider
Specialist on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
The legislative jurisdictions of the Senate's standing committees are established in
Senate Rule XXV. The committees vary in terms of jurisdictional breadth, with some
responsible for a diverse array of issues and others focused more narrowly on related
policies. All of the standing committees, because of their legislative jurisdiction, consider
measures and issues and recommend legislation for consideration by the Senate. They
also have oversight responsibility to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within
their jurisdictions. In addition, the Senate has given some standing committees
comprehensive oversight responsibility for issues that cut across committee jurisdictions.
Some of the Senate's non-standing committees also have legislative jurisdiction,
while the others conduct studies and investigations. The legislative jurisdictions or other
responsibilities of the non-standing committees are contained in the Senate Manual.
Senate Rule XXV generally identifies a dozen or more broad issues handled by each
standing committee, although not all issues within a committee's purview are specified.
Further, these jurisdictional descriptions do not explicitly identify each committee's
jurisdiction over particular measures, or over (1) executive branch departments and
agencies, (2) particular offices within these departments and agencies, or (3) programs
operated by these departments and agencies. A committee's jurisdiction over an
executive department or agency generally is implied by its jurisdiction over the issues it
handles. See [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml] for more information
on legislative process.
Criteria for Referral
A measure introduced in the Senate, or passed by the House and sent to the Senate,
will likely be referred to a Senate committee. Measures are referred to Senate committees
in accordance with their official jurisdictions in Senate Rule XXV, and precedents
established by prior referrals. A series of formal agreements among committees over time
also can supplement Rule XXV, and generally are regarded as setting precedent for future
referrals. Ad hoc agreements may be made to govern the consideration of particular
measures, but these are not binding on future referrals.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsaaqi0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)