Final answer:
Yes, committees within the House and Senate are empowered to establish their own rules for conducting business, and this authority varies among different types of committees. These rules play a pivotal role in the legislative process, affecting how bills are considered, amended, and reported to the full chamber.
Step-by-step explanation:
Committees are indeed authorized to establish rules for their own proceedings within the legislative bodies of the House and the Senate. This is in line with Section 5 Clause 2 which grants them the power to decide on their own rules for conducting business. Among various types of committees, such as standing, joint, conference, and select committees, certain powers and rules differ. For instance, standing committees are instrumental in the initial review and amendment of proposed bills, with committee chairs exercising considerable authority over whether a bill will be heard or considered. In contrast, joint committees mainly serve an informational purpose and do not have bill-referral authority.
When a bill is under consideration, a series of steps are followed which include requesting written comments, holding hearings for expert insights, perfecting the bill through amendments, and sending the measure back to the full chamber, complete with a report detailing the purpose and rationale behind the bill. Thus, through their specific procedures, committees play a crucial role in shaping legislation before it reaches a general floor vote.