Final answer:
Committees are vital in the legislative process of Congress, influencing the creation, amendment, and progress of legislation. Committee reports clarify Congressional intent and the reasoning behind legislative proposals, particularly when statutory language is unclear.
Step-by-step explanation:
Committees play a crucial role in the legislative process, essentially shaping the way Congress operates and enacts laws. They have the power to both advance legislation and halt it in its tracks. Typically, committees perform a thorough examination of proposed bills by soliciting expert testimony, conducting research, and evaluating the potential impacts of the legislation.
A committee report is critical for understanding the intentions behind legislative language. These reports provide insight into Congressional intent, presenting majority and minority opinions, and often include cost and impact estimates of the proposed legislation.
However, the legislative process has undergone considerable changes over the decades, with a transformation in the rules and procedures that govern how Congress operates.