Functions of Congressional Committees

How confident are you in your knowledge of Congressional Committees?

• 1 - not at all

• 2 - a little

• 3 - I know some

• 4 - Very Confident

1. What is the primary purpose of congressional committees?

• To review and refine proposed legislation.

• To manage congressional budgets
• To oversee the executive branch
• To conduct public opinion polls

2. How many standing committees does the House of Representatives have?

• 15
• 25
• 30
• 20

3. What is the function of special or select committees?

• To create new laws and regulations.
• To oversee the budget and financial matters.
• To investigate specific issues and report findings not typically done in other committees.

• To represent the interests of the public in court.

4. What does "Gatekeeping Authority" refer to in congressional committees?

• The ability to approve presidential appointments.
• The authority to set the congressional agenda for the year.
• The power to allocate federal funding to states.
• The power to control which bills are considered for debate in Congress.

5. Who typically serves as the chairperson of a committee?

• A committee member with most experience in majority party

• A random committee member
• The committee's secretary
• The committee's treasurer

6. What happens if a bill does not receive a majority vote in committee?

• The committee can revise the bill and resubmit it later.
• The bill "dies in committee": is not advanced and may be effectively 'killed'.

• The bill is automatically passed to the floor for a vote.
• The bill is sent back to the original sponsor for further changes.

7. What is the role of the Congressional Research Service?

• To provide partisan support to political parties.
• To conduct elections for Congress members.
• The role of the Congressional Research Service is to provide nonpartisan research and analysis to Congress.

8. How did Newt Gingrich change the leadership structure of Congress?

• He promoted a more decentralized approach to leadership.
• He reduced the influence of party leaders in Congress.
• He centralized leadership and emphasized party discipline.

9. What is a caucus in Congress?

• A caucus is a public debate among all members.
• A caucus in Congress is a group of members with shared interests or goals.
• A caucus is a formal vote on legislation.