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Chapter 6.2 Congressional Committees

Chapter 6.2 Congressional Committees. Congress has almost an impossible job: Make laws for a nation of 310,000,000 people. 50 states 3143 counties 38,201 cities Can you imagine the vast number of issues?. The Committee System. Congress breaks all issues down into committees

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Chapter 6.2 Congressional Committees

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  1. Chapter 6.2 Congressional Committees • Congress has almost an impossible job: • Make laws for a nation of 310,000,000 people. • 50 states • 3143 counties • 38,201 cities • Can you imagine the vast number of issues?

  2. The Committee System • Congress breaks all issues down into committees • Smaller groups that can focus on specific topics • Education • Defense • Agriculture • 2 Goals of committees: • Go over each bill before they are voted on • Oversee performance of agencies

  3. Types of Committees • 2 basic types: • Authorizing committee • Establish government policy • Example: • Give financial aid to all college students • Appropriations committee • Deal with how policies will be paid for • Example: • How do we pay for financial aid? • $$$$$

  4. Committees within Committees…

  5. Committee Assignments • Some committees are very important • Appropriations committee • Deal with all of the $$$ • Armed Services Committee • Get to make decisions about military • Foreign Relations • Get to travel a lot! • How do we pick who gets to be in charge of these committees? • Seniority system • Majority party picks committee “chairpersons” by length of time served in committee

  6. Can Congress members work on multiple committees? • Yes! • Most “senior” Congress members serve on multiple committees • Shows how strong they are in Congress • John McCain (R) • Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee • Committee on • Health • Education • Labor • Pensions • Homeland Security • Governmental Affairs • Indian Affairs

  7. How do Congress members make time for all of that work? • They have a personal staff to do it for them! • Senators • Get 100 staff members per committee • H of Reps • Get 80-100 staff members per committee

  8. Other Agencies That Help Committees OutCongressional Budget Office (CBO)

  9. Other Agencies That Help Committees OutGeneral Accounting Office

  10. Other Agencies That Help Committees Out Library of Congress

  11. So these committees make laws? • Yes….but that’s a story for another day.

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