This report provides an overview of the categories and rules for committee assignments

Schneider, Judy

This report discusses procedures for committee assignments, which both House and party rules detail. House rules address the election and membership of committees, especially limitations on membership. The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules designate categories of committees and specify service limitations in addition to those in the House rules

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Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 98-151 GOVUpdated February 25, 2005House Committees: Categories and Rules forCommittee AssignmentsJudy SchneiderSpecialist on the CongressGovernment and Finance DivisionIntroductionBoth House and party rules detail procedures for committee assignments.  Houserules address the election and membership of committees, especially limitations onmembership.  The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules designatecategories of committees (shown below) and specify service limitations in addition tothose in the House rules.Number of Assignments! In general, no Member, Delegate or Resident Commissioner can serve onmore than two standing committees and four subcommittees of thosestanding committees (House Rule X, clause 5(b)(2)(A)).! Democrats and Republicans designate exclusive committees andgenerally limit service to one such panel.  Democratic Members ofexclusive committees cannot also serve on nonexclusive committees, butthey can serve on the Budget or House Administration Committee.Republican Members assigned to the Rules Committee can take “leavewith seniority” from one standing committee to serve on Rules.! Democrats and Republicans designate nonexclusive committees and limitMembers to service on two such panels, unless the House rules containother requirements.Limitations on Assignments! Service on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is exemptfrom the two-committee limitation.  Service is also limited to threeCongresses during any five successive Congresses.  (House Rule X,clause 5.) Democratic Caucus rules, however,  limit service to no morethan three Congresses in any five.CRS-2! Budget Committee members are limited to no more than four Congressesin any six successive Congresses (House Rule X, clause 5(a)(2)(B)).Democratic Caucus rules limit members to no more than threeCongresses in any five.  Members may serve for one additional Congressas chair or ranking member if they assumed leadership in their fourthterm on the committee.! Intelligence Committee members are limited to no more than fourCongresses in any period of six Congresses (House Rule X, clause 11).In addition, Democratic Caucus rules say Members may not serve onmore than one standing committee, although they may take a leave ofabsence from service on another standing committee to serve on theIntelligence Committee.! “Any other exception to these limitations must be approved by the Houseupon the recommendation of the respective party caucus or conference.”(House Rule X, clause 5.)CRS-3Categories of CommitteesCategory Democrats RepublicansExclusive Appropriations AppropriationsRules RulesWays and Means Ways and MeansEnergy and Commerce (forMembers first serving on thepanel in the 104th Congress andsubsequent Congresses)Energy and CommerceFinancial Services (forMembers first serving on thepanel in the 109th andsubsequent Congresses)Non-Exclusive Agriculture AgricultureArmed Services Armed ServicesBudget BudgetEducation and the Workforce Education and the WorkforceEnergy and Commerce (formembers who served on thepanel before the 104thCongress)Financial Services (forMembers who served on thepanel before the 109thCongress)Financial ServicesGovernment Reform Government ReformHomeland Security Homeland SecuruityHouse Administration House AdministrationInternational Relations International RelationsJudiciary JudiciaryResources ResourcesScience ScienceSmall Business Small BusinessTransportation andInfrastructureTransportation andInfrastructureVeterans’ Affairs Veterans’ AffairsExempt Standards of Official Conduct;Select Intelligence (not listed assuch but treated as exempt)Select Intelligence; Standards ofOfficial Conduct

House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 98-151 GOVUpdated December 1, 2004House Committees: Categories and Rules forCommittee AssignmentsJudy SchneiderSpecialist on the CongressGovernment and Finance DivisionIntroductionBoth House and party rules detail procedures for committee assignments.  Houserules address the election and membership of committees, especially limitations onmembership.  The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules designatecategories of committees (shown below) and specify service limitations in addition tothose in the House rules.Organizing the 109th CongressAs of November 30, 2004, the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucushave not determined committee sizes and ratios for the new Congress.  The RepublicanSteering Committee, the entity responsible for determining most committee chairs andmaking most committee assignments, has been constituted but has made no assignmentdecisions.  The Democratic Steering Committee has not yet been fully constituted.On the opening day of a new Congress, the House adopts its rules from the previousCongress, and any changes, some of which often affect committee and subcommitteestructure and organization.This report, therefore, reflects information current as of November 30, 2004, and willbe updated as events warrant.Number of Assignments! In general, no Member, Delegate or Resident Commissioner can serve onmore than two standing committees and four subcommittees of thosestanding committees (House Rule X, clause 5(b)(2)(A)).! Democrats and Republicans designate exclusive committees andgenerally limit service to one such panel.  Democratic Members ofexclusive committees cannot also serve on nonexclusive committees, butthey can serve on the Budget or House Administration Committee.Republican Members assigned to the Rules Committee can take “leavewith seniority” from one standing committee to serve on Rules.CRS-2! Democrats and Republicans designate nonexclusive committees and limitMembers to service on two such panels, unless the House rules containother requirements.Limitations on Assignments! Service on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is exemptfrom the two-committee limitation.  Service is also limited to threeCongresses during any five successive Congresses.  (House Rule X,clause 5.) Democratic Caucus rules, however,  limit service to no morethan three Congresses in any five.! Budget Committee members are limited to no more than four Congressesin any six successive Congresses (House Rule X, clause 5(a)(2)(B)).Democratic Caucus rules limit members to no more than threeCongresses in any five.  Members may serve for one additional Congressas chair or ranking member if they assumed leadership in their fourthterm on the committee.! Intelligence Committee members are limited to no more than fourCongresses in any period of six Congresses (House Rule X, clause 11).In addition, Democratic Caucus rules say Members may not serve onmore than one standing committee, although they may take a leave ofabsence from service on another standing committee to serve on theIntelligence Committee.! “Any other exception to these limitations must be approved by the Houseupon the recommendation of the respective party caucus or conference.”(House Rule X, clause 5.)CRS-3Categories of CommitteesCategory Democrats RepublicansExclusive Appropriations AppropriationsRules RulesWays and Means Ways and MeansEnergy and Commerce (forMembers first serving on thepanel in the 104th Congress andsubsequent Congresses)Energy and CommerceNon-Exclusive Agriculture AgricultureArmed Services Armed ServicesBudget BudgetEducation and the Workforce Education and the WorkforceEnergy and Commerce (formembers who served on thepanel before the 104thCongress)Government Reform Government ReformHouse Administration House AdministrationInternational Relations International RelationsJudiciary JudiciaryResources ResourcesScience ScienceSmall Business Small BusinessTransportation andInfrastructureTransportation andInfrastructureVeterans’ Affairs Veterans’ AffairsExempt Standards of Official Conduct;Select Intelligence (not listed assuch but treated as exempt)Select Intelligence; Standards ofOfficial Conduct

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House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

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