Final answer:
Congress divides its legislative work across over two hundred committees, including standing committees (20 in the House and 16 in the Senate), joint committees, conference committees, and special or select committees. These committees are specialized and play a substantial role in setting the congressional agenda and examining legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Congress is organized into several committees to manage the array of legislative responsibilities it holds. With over two hundred committees, subcommittees, select committees, and joint committees, Congress divides its work based on specialization, much like departments in the executive branch. The most essential of these committees are the twenty standing committees in the House and sixteen in the Senate, tasked with the detailed evaluation of legislation relevant to their areas of jurisdiction, such as domestic, international, economic, agricultural, regulatory, criminal, and military issues.
In addition to the standing committees, other types of committees include: the joint committees, which are comprised of members from both the House and the Senate and address key issues without bill-referral authority; the conference committees, which resolve differences in bills that each chamber has passed in different forms; and special or select committees, which are temporary and set up to investigate specific issues or conduct oversight.
Each committee plays a crucial role in the legislative process, from initial bill proposals to setting the congressional agenda. Committee assignments can greatly impact a member of Congress's career, offering the opportunity for expertise, influence, and sometimes national prominence.