LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

In the Congress of the United States and the legislatures of the forty-eight states committees composed of a limited number of members play an important part and to a large extent the predominant part, in legislation both by making preliminary inquiries and by planning the detailed provisions of measures. While important changes are at times made in the general sessions, the final result is in a large measure determined by the several committees. In most American legislative bodies there are numerous committees of various kinds, such as select committees for limited special purposes, standing committees regularly appointed, conference committees, and other joint committees of both branches, and committees of the whole house; while from time to time special commissions are appointed, often including others than members of the legislative bodies, to carry out more extended inquiries and investigations of particular subjects.