98-183 GOV
Updated February 2, 2000
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Senate Committees: Categories and Rules for
Committee Assignments
Judy Schneider
Specialist on the Congress
Government and Finance Division

Senate Rule XXV and party conference rules address committee assignments. Senate
Rule XXV, paragraphs 2 and 3 establish categories of committees, popularly referred to
as “A”, “B”, and “C”, that condition assignment rules.
A COMMITTEES
B COMMITTEES
C COMMITTEES
Agriculture, Nutrition and
Budget
Select Ethics
Forestry
Rules and Administration
Indian Affairs
Appropriations
Small Business
Joint Taxation
Armed Services
Veterans’ Affairs
(Joint Library and Joint
Banking, Housing and
Printing are not listed, but
Urban Affairs
Special Aging
are treated as C committees
for assignment purposes)
Commerce, Science and
Select Intelligence
Transportation
Joint Economic Committee
Energy and Natural
Resources
Environment and Public
Works
Finance
Foreign Relations
Governmental Affairs
Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions
Judiciary
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
Number of Assignments: Senate Rule XXV, paragraph 4, places restrictions on
committee membership based on these categories.
! Each Senator shall serve on two committees, and no more than two, in Class A.
! Each Senator may serve on one committee, but no more than one, in Class B.
! Each Senator may serve on one or more committees in Class C.
Limitations on Assignments:
! Super “A” or “Big Four” Committees: Democratic and Republican members are
prohibited from serving on more than one among the Committees on
Appropriations, Armed Services, Finance, and Foreign Relations pursuant to party
rules.
! Republican Members from the same state are prohibited from serving on the same
committee by Republican Conference rule. Democrats adhere to the same
prohibition, but by tradition.
! Service on the Select Intelligence Committee is limited to no more than eight years
of continuous service, as provided in the resolution creating the committee.
Limitations on Chairmanships: Republican Conference rules address limitations on
committee leadership positions for Republicans whether or not they are in the majority.
Democratic Conference rules may also address these limitations; however, their rules are
not publicly available.
! A chair/ranking member of an “A” committee may not serve as chair or ranking
member of any other committee, except the chair/ranking member of the Finance
Committee may chair the Joint Committee on Taxation.
! A chair/ranking member of an “A” committee may not serve as chair/ranking
member of any subcommittees. Appropriations subcommittee chairmanships are
exempt.
! A chair/ranking member of a “non-A” committee may not serve as chair/ranking
member of any other committee, except the chair/ranking member of the Rules and
Administration Committee may chair the Joint Printing or Joint Library Committee.
! A chair/ranking member of a “non-A” committee, excluding Ethics, may not serve
as chair/ranking member of more than one subcommittee. Appropriations
subcommittee chairmanships are not exempt.
! The chair/vice chair of the Ethics Committee may serve on no more than two
standing subcommittees.
! A Senator may not serve as chair/ranking member of more than two
subcommittees.
! A Senator shall not serve more than 6 years as chair and 6 years as ranking member
of any standing committee, effective January 1997.

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