Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution did not mention nor provide for committees in Congress, but both the House of Representatives and the Senate utilized them. The only committee formed by the Constitution was the Committee of the Whole, which was a parliamentary device that relaxed the rules of the Senate and facilitated debate on legislation. The committee was granted the right to vote and the right to preside over the Committee of the Whole. The Resident Commissioner and Delegates, however, did not have the right to vote on matters before the House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of committees | 22 |
| Types of committees | 10 procedural committees, 12 substantive committees |
| Most important committee | Drafting Committee |
| Chairman of Drafting Committee | Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar |
| Other important committees | Rules Committee, Gerry Committee, Committee of Detail, Committee of Slave Trade, Brearly Committee, Committee of Style |
| Date of approval of draft constitution | 26 November 1949 |
| Date constitution took effect | 26 January 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not mention committees
The increasing demand for committee action led to the establishment of a system of permanent standing committees in 1816. The Senate created 11 such committees, including Foreign Relations, Finance, Commerce and Manufactures, Military Affairs, and Judiciary. Standing committees are permanent bodies with specific responsibilities and jurisdictions defined in the Senate's rules. They are crucial for the effective functioning of the Senate, as they gather information, draft and consider legislation, and provide oversight of federal government operations.
The House of Representatives also established standing committees during the same period, with the power to develop and assess legislation. Members typically serve on a small number of committees, gaining expertise in specific policy areas. Committee chairs are usually from the majority party, and members often serve on committees for many years, allowing them to become highly knowledgeable in their respective areas.
The process of assigning committee seats has evolved over time. Initially, the full Senate elected chairs and members for each committee at the start of each session. However, this changed in 1823 when the responsibility was transferred to the presiding officer, either the vice president or the president pro tempore. The procedure continued to evolve, with various methods being employed, including balloting and lists submitted by party conferences.
While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention committees, their presence in both the House of Representatives and the Senate has been a fundamental aspect of the legislative process, contributing to the effective functioning of Congress.
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The first Congress had temporary committees
The United States Constitution did not mention or provide for committees in Congress. However, the very first Congress utilised temporary committees. The first Senate committee was established on April 7, 1789, to draw up Senate rules of procedure. The Senate operated with temporary select committees, which were responsive to the entire Senate, with the full Senate selecting their jurisdiction and membership. This system provided flexibility, as an unresponsive committee could be replaced with another. The Senate could also forgo committee referral for actions on legislation or presidential nominations.
The early committees generally consisted of three members for routine business and five members for more complex issues. The largest committee during the first Congress had eleven members and was formed to determine the salaries of the president and vice president. In the first session, the entire membership of the Senate was divided into two large committees, with half the senators on the committee to prepare legislation establishing the federal judiciary.
During the First Congress (1789–1791), Senator Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut served on 22 committees in the first session and 36 committees in the second session, while other senators typically served on about 11 committees in a session, with some serving on only one or even none. In the 1790s, many select committees were appointed to consider bills already passed by the House. By the first decade of the 19th century, the Senate referred legislation to 100 or more temporary committees each Congress.
In the first decade of the 19th century, the Senate had only four standing or permanent committees, responsible for "housekeeping" tasks. During this time, the Senate first met to discuss legislation as a "Committee of the Whole", a parliamentary device that relaxed the rules of the Senate and facilitated debate on legislation.
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The Senate has permanent committees
The United States Constitution did not mention nor provide for committees in Congress. However, both the House of Representatives and the Senate utilized them, starting with the very first Congress. The Senate initially relied on temporary select committees, with the first one being appointed on April 7, 1789, to draft the Senate rules of procedure.
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the need to break into smaller groups arose on twelve different occasions. Each of these twelve committees was an "Action Committee", helping the Convention move to the next stage of the decision-making process. Four of these committees were crucial in framing the Constitution: The Committee of Detail, the Committee of Slave Trade, the Brearly Committee, and the Committee of Style.
In the first decade of the 19th century, the Senate had only four standing or permanent committees, responsible for "housekeeping" tasks. These were two joint committees with the House (on enrolled bills and the Library of Congress), a committee on engrossed bills, and the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate. During this early period, the Senate first met as a Committee of the Whole, a mechanism that relaxed the rules and facilitated legislative debate.
The Senate continued to create semi-permanent legislative committees that remained active throughout a session in the first decades of the 19th century. In 1806, concerned about the time spent electing temporary committees, the Senate adopted a rule to streamline the process. By the 1960s, the number of subcommittees had increased significantly to address new policy issues, with the Senate supporting a total of 151 committees and subcommittees in 1963. Senators typically served on numerous committees, leading to complaints about conflicting schedules and overwork.
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The Speaker of the House refers bills to committees
The United States Constitution does not mention or provide for committees in Congress. However, the Speaker of the House refers bills to committees. Each committee has a specific jurisdiction defined by the subject matter under the rules of each House, and measures are referred accordingly. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary in the House has jurisdiction over matters relating to judicial proceedings, constitutional amendments, immigration policy, bankruptcy, and trademarks, among others.
The Speaker of the House previously could refer a bill to only one committee until 1975. However, in modern practice, the Speaker may refer an introduced bill to multiple committees for consideration of the provisions within each committee's jurisdiction. The Speaker must designate a primary committee of jurisdiction on bills referred to multiple committees, except in extraordinary circumstances.
The process of referring bills to committees is an essential aspect of lawmaking. Committees play a crucial role in transforming broad objectives of proposed legislation into specific bill text. They are responsible for drafting and refining legislation before it is presented to the full Senate or House for a vote. This process involves extensive deliberation and decision-making, with members selected by ballot and the member receiving the most votes designated as the chair.
The use of committees provides an opportunity for specialized knowledge and expertise to be applied to the legislative process. Senators with expertise in particular subjects are often elected to relevant committees. By dividing the legislative workload, committees help ensure that bills are thoroughly reviewed and refined before becoming law. This system of committees is a long-standing tradition, with the first Congress (1789-1791) utilizing temporary select committees and the creation of semi-permanent legislative committees in the early 19th century.
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The Constituent Assembly of India had 22 committees
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in 1946 to draft the Indian Constitution. It was a sovereign body comprising 22 committees that worked together to shape a democratic republic rooted in justice, liberty, equality, and diversity. The Assembly played a crucial role in ensuring that the Constitution reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric.
The 22 committees were formed to address different aspects of the Constitution and conduct preliminary research and deliberations. Eight of these committees were considered major, while the remaining 14 were minor or supporting committees. The most important committee was the Drafting Committee, which was headed by Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as B.R. Ambedkar, and included six other members. This committee took 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days to frame the full Constitution, and the entire process involved vigorous debates and discussions.
The Constituent Assembly, led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr. Ambedkar, engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, shaping the document's core principles. The Assembly had 389 members initially, but after the partition of India and Pakistan, the number decreased to 299 as some princely states and provinces became part of Pakistan. The Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, and its last meeting on January 24, 1950.
The Constitution of India, with 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts, was passed and adopted by the Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, marking India's shift to a sovereign republic and the introduction of parliamentary democracy.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution does not mention nor provide for committees in Congress. However, both the House of Representatives and the Senate utilized them, beginning with the very first Congress.
In the first decade of the 19th century, the Senate had only four standing, or permanent, committees, responsible for "housekeeping" tasks: two joint committees with the House (on enrolled bills and the Library of Congress), a committee on engrossed bills, and the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate.
Committees are essential to the operation of the Senate. They are responsible for transforming the broad objectives of proposed legislation into specific bill text. Committees may also be appointed to consider bills already passed by the House.
