Subcommittees in the House of Representatives

Publication Date: May 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

Subcommittees are entities created by full committees to assist them in managing their work. Pursuant to Rule XI, clause 1(a)(A), "The Rules of the House are the rules of its committees and subcommittees so far as applicable...." According to clause 1(a)(2) of the same rule, "each subcommittee of a committee is a part of that committee, and is subject to the authority and direction of that committee and to its rules, so far as applicable."

Service on subcommittees enables members to develop expertise in specialized fields. Subcommittees diffuse the legislative process. For the most part, they are independent, autonomous units with written jurisdictions, and, pursuant to longstanding practice, most bills are referred by a full committee to them. Prior to the 104th Congress, subcommittees controlled their own, autonomous staffs.