legislative committees
Bill-reviewing congressional panels
Legislative committees are subgroups within a legislature assigned to examine specific policy areas or tasks.
Standing committees handle ongoing domains like finance or defense; select committees address particular issues temporarily.
Committees review proposed legislation, hold hearings, and make recommendations before bills reach the full body for a vote: The bill died in committee.
- motionChange in position
- subcommitteeSubset of larger panel
- debateFormal argument on issues
- markup sessionTime for adding corrections
- public hearingsOfficial meetings open to all
oversight hearing · parliamentary procedure · whistleblower protection · fact-finding mission · agenda setting · witness testimony · lawmaking · agenda · appropriations · legal enforcement · power grab · vote · bipartisan compromise · rubber stamp · dais · closed door session · smoke-filled room · witness
legislative committeesexecutive branch
Government's implementing arm
judicial branch · regulatory agencies · cabinet · Supreme Court
legislative committeeslobbyists
Paid political persuaders
special interest groups · lobbying groups · interest groups · backroom deals · think tanks