http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/98-241_20110211.pdfhttp://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/98-241_20110211.pdf – Valerie Heitshusen, Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process, February 11, 2011
“Committee Types and Roles Congressional Research Service 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. 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. At the beginning of the 112th Congress, there were 20 standing committees in the House with 103 subcommittees, and one select committee.1 The Senate has 16 standing committees with 74 subcommittees, as well as four select or special committees. In addition, there are four joint committees. Types of Committees There are three main types of committees: standing, select or special, and joint. (Party committees, task forces, and congressional Member organizations–informal groups–are not addressed here.) Standing committees are permanent panels identified as such in chamber rules (House Rule X, Senate Rule XXV). Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration by their respective chambers. They also have oversight responsibility to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions, and in some cases in areas that cut across committee jurisdictions. Most standing committees recommend funding levels–authorizations–for government operations and for new and existing programs.”
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