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Allows members of Congress to divide their work among many smaller groups.

Committees select from the large number of bills the few that are to receive further consideration.

By holding public hearings and investigations, committees help the public learn about key problems and issues facing the nation.

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Standing committees stand, or continue, from one legislative session to the next.

The House and Senate control their areas of jurisdiction.

The majority party in each house controls the standing committees

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Subcommittee specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee’s responsibility.

They usually continue from one legislative session to the next.

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These are temporary committees.

They study one specific issue and report their findings to the Senate or the House.

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Joint committees can be temporary or permanent and are made up of members from both the House and the Senate.

act as a kind of study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill

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Parties have the job of assigning members to the standing committees.

Newly elected members or returning members of Congress approach party leaders to express their interest in serving on a certain committee.

Each member can serve on only a limited number of standing committees and subcommittees.

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make the key decisions about the work of committees.

decide when hearings will be held and which witnesses will be called to testify.

hire staff members for committees and control their budgets.

manage debates

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The majority party member with the longest uninterrupted service on a committee was appointed leader of that committee.

The seniority system has been criticized for giving a few members of Congress too much power.

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The administrative assistant serves as the chief of staff.

runs the lawmaker’s office, supervises the lawmaker’s schedule, and gives advice on political matters.

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establishes the legislative agenda and briefs the lawmaker on all legislative matters.

supervises and serves as a resource person for the more junior legislative staff members.

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make certain that the lawmaker is well informed about the many bills with which she or he must deal.

does research, drafts bills, studies bills that are currently in Congress, and writes speeches and articles for the lawmaker.

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know how the media works and how to attract attention.

draft press releases, schedule press conferences, and answer questions from the media.

assist senators and representatives with their websites, videos, blogs, tweets, and other electronic communication.

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handle the many requests for help from a member’s constituents.

staff in key cities in member's home states and districts.

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The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world.

Contains more than 100 million books, journals, music pieces, films, photographs, and maps.

The Library is the administrator of the copyright law.

The Library of Congress has a Congressional Research Service.

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Congress established the CBO to coordinate the budget work of Congress, to study the budget proposals put forward by the president each year, and to project the costs of proposed programs.

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The nation’s surveyor over how the funds Congress appropriates are spent.

They review the financial management of government programs that Congress creates, collect government debts, settle claims, and provide legal service.

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Makes the Congressional Record, House and Senate bills, committee hearings, reports, and other publications available online.