Differences in Congressional Committee Systems

Very Hard Unit 2: Branches Of Government Congressional Structure

In the United States Congress, understanding the intricacies of legislative structure is vital for analyzing its overall function. One key aspect is the role of committees, as they determine how legislation is considered and refined before reaching the floor for debate and voting.

Each chamber of Congress utilizes a specific framework for organizing committees, which significantly impacts legislative efficiency and accountability. The House of Representatives, for example, employs a stricter system of committee leadership and member assignments, whereas the Senate tends to operate with more egalitarian access to committee positions.

This difference reflects a broader debate about representation and efficiency within Congress. Given this understanding, which of the following is a correct statement about the committee systems in both the House of Representatives and the Senate?

The House has a system of seniority that grants majority leadership greater power in committee assignments than the Senate.

Senate committees are generally larger and have fewer responsibilities compared to those in the House due to different rules.

Both the House and Senate committees operate under a fundamentally identical structure and are led by the same kinds of leaders.

Committee members in the Senate can often delay proceedings through unanimous consent agreements, which is less common in the House.

Hint

Submitted8.9K

Correct8.1K

% Correct91%