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![Page 1: 27G describe the structure and function of the Congressional Committee System, including the seniority system and assess the importance of the committees.](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022070410/56649eec5503460f94bfd423/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
27G describe the structure and function of the Congressional
Committee System, including the seniority system and assess the
importance of the committees to the lawmaking process
By: John Gruhn and
JJ “The Jetplane” Jackson
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• A Congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty (rather than the general duties of Congress).
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• Congressional committees monitor on-going governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information; and recommend courses of action
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• Congress divides its legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks among approximately 200 committees and subcommittees.
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• 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.
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The Seniority System• The seniority rule was established in the
late 1800’s
• It is provided so that the most important post, in both formal and party organization, will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress.
• The rule is strictly applied to the choice of committee chairmen .
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Criticism of the Seniority Rule•
The Seniority system ignores ability, rewards mere length of service, and works to discourage younger members.
• Also, critics say that the Committee head comes from a “safe” constituency. So in many ways the seniority system does more harm than good.
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Lawmaking process
• The importance of committees to the lawmaking process…..
The importance of committees to the lawmaking process is that the congressional committee makes the laws.
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Lawmaking process continued..• The process of congressional
committees and law making begins with a two-year Congressional session. Representatives and Senators sponsor public policy proposals that are introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate as numbered bills (or acts).
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• Representatives and Senate as numbered bills (or acts).
• Some bills are referred to House of Representatives and Senate Committees, or Joint Committees.
• Committee action can produce the following types of documents,Committee Prints, Committee Hearings, and Committee Reports.
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Lawmaking process continued…
• Some bills are debated by the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This debate is recorded in the Congressional Record.
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• Some bills are passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is the role that congressional committees play in the law making process