Final answer:
The correct answer is B: Committees research and make changes to a bill before referring it for a vote. They are involved in the development and review of legislation in both the House and the Senate, but do not make the final decision on whether a bill becomes law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is B: Committees research and make changes to a bill before referring it for a vote. Congressional committees play a crucial role in the legislative process. They are not limited to the House of Representatives, as they exist in both the House and the Senate. Committees take multiple steps to develop legislation, including holding hearings with experts and reaching out to relevant agencies to gather information.
Once a committee has gathered information and discussed amendments, they send the bill to the full chamber along with their recommendations, but they do not have the final say in whether a bill becomes law. Furthermore, Senate committees are not considered less important than House committees; they simply operate differently due to the size and structure of each chamber.
Committees come in several forms, including standing committees, joint committees, conference committees, and select committees. Standing committees are where most bills originate and where they are first reviewed. However, it is important to note that most bills do not make it out of committee. Joint committees have no bill-referral authority but serve an informational role. Conference committees reconcile differing bills passed by the House and Senate, and select or special committees are temporary and often focus on investigations or specific issues.