Order Code 98-183 GOV
Updated November 4, 2002
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 and
Joint Taxation
Armed Services
Entrepreneurship
(Joint Library and Joint
Banking, Housing and
Veterans’ Affairs
Printing are not listed, but
Urban Affairs
are treated as C committees
Special Aging
for assignment purposes)
Commerce, Science and
Transportation
Select Intelligence
Energy and Natural
Joint Economic Committee
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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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 of any standing
committee, effective January 1997, plus 6 years as ranking member of a
committee. Once a Senator served 6 years chairing a committee, the term
would be over. However, if a Senator served 6 years as a ranking

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minority member, the Senator could serve as chair if the party controls
the chamber.
Limitations on Chair and Party Leader Assignments:
! A chair or party leader may not select an “A” committee on their third
round committee selection.

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