Question

Most of the work in Congress is done

a. on the floor of the House
b. in conjunction with the president
c. in meetings with the president
d. in select committees
e. in standing committees

Answer 1

Most of the work in Congress is completed in standing committees, where bills are deliberated, amended, and readied for potential floor votes. These committees are critical to the legislative process and agenda setting in Congress.

Step-by-step explanation:

Most of the Work in Congress

Most of the work in Congress is done in standing committees. These are permanent committees that have jurisdiction over particular issues. Members examine specific proposals and deliberate on bills within these committees before they can go to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote. Standing committees, along with subcommittees, are crucial in setting the congressional agenda and in the legislative process of developing, amending, and passing bills.

Standing committees play a fundamental role by specializing in certain subject areas, akin to bureaucratic departments in the executive branch. In the House, with its twenty standing committees, intensive policy review is possible due to the proportion of members to committees. In contrast, the Senate has sixteen standing committees, and Senators often consider the committee decisions more as recommendations than final decisions. Given the volume and complexity of issues dealt with by Congress, this committee system is essential for efficient and effective governance.