How Committees Work

1. Referral & Jurisdiction
After introduction, bills are referred to one or more committees with subject-matter jurisdiction (sometimes split or sequential referrals). Committee jurisdiction helps route topics to the right experts and provides a predictable home for review.
Most bills are referred to committee and never advance further — committees are the primary gatekeepers.
2. Organization & Leadership
Each committee is led by a Chair (majority party) and a Ranking Member (minority party). Membership ratios mirror party control in the chamber. Chairs set agendas, schedule meetings, and recognize members — a major source of influence over what moves.
3. Subcommittees
Most committees delegate work to subcommittees that focus on slices of the jurisdiction. Bills can be sent to a subcommittee for hearings and markup before returning to the full committee for final action.
4. Hearings
Committees and subcommittees hold hearings to gather facts and build a record. Witnesses can include agency officials, outside experts, advocates, and affected stakeholders. Members question witnesses and test assumptions in public.
5. Markup
In markup meetings, members debate and vote on amendments to the bill text. Often the committee adopts an amendment in the nature of a substitute — a full replacement draft — to consolidate changes before final action.
Key Committee Terms:
HearingPublic testimony and questioning to build a record.
MarkupMeeting where amendments are debated and adopted.
QuorumMinimum members required to conduct business or report.
Ordered ReportedCommittee votes to send a measure to the full chamber.
Favorable/UnfavorableHow the committee recommends (or not) the bill.
Without RecommendationBill sent forward with no position taken.
Committee PrintWorking draft used for review/markup.
DischargeProcess to bring a bill to the floor when the committee doesn’t act.
6. Reporting a Bill
When a majority of the committee supports moving forward, the bill is ordered reported. The clerk prepares the official reported text (as amended) and the committee formally transmits it to the chamber.
7. Committee Report
Many measures are accompanied by a written committee report explaining the bill’s purpose, major provisions, changes to existing law, vote tallies, and other required analyses (such as budgetary effects). Reports help other members — and the public — understand what the bill would do.
8. Gatekeeping & Discharge
If a committee chooses not to act, a bill can stall indefinitely. In the House, members may attempt a discharge to bring a bill to the floor; in the Senate, discharge can occur by agreement or motion. These tools are used sparingly and usually signal strong interest in floor consideration.
9. Oversight & Investigations
Beyond processing bills, committees oversee executive agencies — requesting documents, holding oversight hearings, and investigating implementation. This work shapes legislation and guides future reforms even when no bill advances.
After a bill is reported, the path to the floor differs by chamber (e.g., House Rules Committee scheduling vs. Senate unanimous consent or motions).