Standing Committees

Definition

Standing committees are permanent committees in the U.S. Congress that focus on specific policy areas, such as finance or judiciary. They have the authority to propose, amend, and vote on legislation related to their area of expertise.

Related terms

Subcommittees: These are smaller groups within standing committees that focus on more specialized topics within the committee's jurisdiction.

Markup: The process by which a standing committee debates, amends, and votes on proposed legislation before sending it to the full chamber for consideration.

Chairperson: The member of a standing committee who leads and oversees its activities. They play a crucial role in setting the committee's agenda and guiding its work.