The process of determining the membership of standing
congressional committees.
Rules of Breaking Up
Standing committees have been a mainstay since the First
Congress. They are permanent panels in both chambers that conduct
investigations, consider legislation, oversee the Executive and
Judicial branches, and, in the Senate, confirm Presidential
nominees. But how exactly do members get seated on these
panels?
On the Senate side, party leadership or a steering committee is
in charge of determining not only which
members will sit on each committee but the size and ratio of their
caucus's members. A Senate rule breaks down its
committees into A, B, and C classes. No senator may serve on more
than two Class A committees and one Class B committee, unless
granted a waiver. Senate rules also prohibit two senators of the
same party and state from serving on the same committee, regardless
of classification.
