Congressional Committees
Congressional Committees are groups of Congressmen and women who work on bills and resolutions for a certain aspect of government or a problem. Each committee determines what should be discussed with Congress as a whole.
Committees control the congressional agenda and guide legislation. There are four types of committees.
1. Standing committees: Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.
2. Join committees: Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.
3. Conference committees: Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.
4. Select committees: Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.