How does the committee process work

If the committee has approved extensive amendments, they may decide to report a new bill incorporating all the amendments. Votes in committee can be found in Committee Votes. If the committee votes to report a bill, the Committee Report is written. This report describes the purpose and scope of the measure and the reasons for recommended approval.

Skip to main content. Find Your Representative. Where can I find information about a committee's jurisdiction? A committee's jurisdiction can be found on its website. If the committee's jurisdiction is not listed on the site's homepage, then look under the subheadings "About the Committee" or "Committee Information.

What if an issue is in the jurisdiction of multiple committees? These measures can either be considered sequentially or simultaneously. How are senators assigned to committees?

Each party assigns, by resolution, its own members to committees, and each committee distributes its members among subcommittees. The Senate places limits on the number and types of panels any one senator may serve on and chair. For more information on how senators are assigned to committees, read about committee membership from the Senate Historical Office. Where can I find a list of senators who have served as committee chairs?

A list of chairpersons of Senate standing committees to Present is available on Senate. Where can I find a current subcommittee membership list? A list of a committee's current subcommittee membership can be found on Senate. Simply choose a committee from the drop down list and then click on a subcommittee's link, this will take you to the current membership roster for that subcommittee. Subcommittee membership can also be found in the Congressional Directory.

For additional information read the research guide How to find subcommittee membership rosters. What is the difference between caucuses and committees? A caucus is an informal organization of members of the House or the Senate, or both, that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.

Caucuses differ from committees because committees are subsidiary organizations, established for the purpose of considering legislation, conducting hearings and investigations, or carrying out other assignments as instructed by the Senate. Where do I find the current committee hearing and meeting schedule? Committees are an essential part of the legislative process. Senate committees monitor on-going governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the Senate.

During each two-year Congress thousands of bills and resolutions are referred to Senate committees. To manage the volume and complexity, the Senate divides its work between standing committees , special or select committees , and joint committees.

These committees are further divided into subcommittees.