A grand committee is a type of congressional committee that combines members from several different standing committees to consider a specific bill or resolution. Grand committees are typically used for complex or controversial legislation that requires a broad range of expertise. The four main types of grand committees in the US Congress are the Committee of the Whole House, the Committee of the Whole Senate, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the Joint Economic Committee.
The Grand Committee Structure
Grand committees are committees of the United States Congress that are composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They are used to consider and report legislation to their respective chambers.
Structure
Grand committees are typically composed of 20 to 40 members, with an equal number of members from each chamber. The members are appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate.
The chairman of a grand committee is typically a member of the majority party in the chamber that has the most members on the committee. The vice chairman is typically a member of the minority party in the same chamber.
Grand committees have the same powers as other congressional committees, including the power to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, and issue reports. However, grand committees do not have the power to pass legislation. Instead, they report legislation to their respective chambers for consideration.
Advantages
There are several advantages to using grand committees to consider legislation. First, grand committees can provide a more bipartisan and less partisan environment for considering legislation than regular congressional committees. This is because grand committees are composed of members from both the majority and minority parties in both chambers.
Second, grand committees can allow for a more thorough consideration of legislation than regular congressional committees. This is because grand committees have more time to consider legislation and can hold more hearings and subpoena more witnesses.
Third, grand committees can help to build consensus on legislation. This is because grand committees are composed of members from both chambers who have a stake in the legislation.
Disadvantages
There are also several disadvantages to using grand committees to consider legislation. First, grand committees can be more expensive than regular congressional committees. This is because grand committees have to travel to meet and have to hire more staff.
Second, grand committees can be more time-consuming than regular congressional committees. This is because grand committees have to consider legislation from both chambers and have to hold more hearings and subpoena more witnesses.
Third, grand committees can be more difficult to manage than regular congressional committees. This is because grand committees are composed of members from both chambers who have different priorities and interests.
Table of Grand Committees
The following table lists the grand committees of the United States Congress:
| Grand Committee | House Members | Senate Members |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Committee on Taxation | 11 | 12 |
| Joint Economic Committee | 11 | 12 |
| Joint Committee on the Library | 5 | 5 |
| Joint Committee on Printing | 5 | 5 |
| Joint Steering Committee on the Organization of Congress | 5 | 5 |
| Joint Committee on the Deficit Reduction | 12 | 12 |
| Joint Committee on Health Care Reform | 13 | 13 |
| Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction | 12 | 12 |
| Joint Select Committee on Border Security | 12 | 12 |
Question 1: What is a grand committee in the United States Congress?
Answer: A grand committee is a type of committee in the United States Congress that is appointed to perform specific tasks. It is a joint committee, meaning that it includes members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Question 2: How is a grand committee different from other types of committees?
Answer: Grand committees are typically appointed for a specific purpose or to consider a particular issue. They are different from standing committees, which are permanent committees that handle specific subject areas. Grand committees are also different from select committees, which are temporary committees that are created to investigate a particular issue.
Question 3: What are the powers of a grand committee?
Answer: Grand committees have the power to conduct investigations, hold hearings, and report legislation to the full House or Senate. However, they do not have the power to vote on legislation.
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