House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

October 17, 2014 (98-151)

Contents

Introduction

Number of Assignments

Limitations on Assignments

Tables

Table 1. Categories of Committees

Summary

Both House and party rules detail procedures for committee assignments. House rules address the election and membership of committees, especially limitations on membership. The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules designate categories of committees (shown in Table 1) and specify service limitations in addition to those in the House rules.

House Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

Introduction

Both House and party rules detail procedures for committee assignments. House rules address the election and membership of committees, especially limitations on membership. The Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules designate categories of committees and specify service limitations in addition to those in the House rules.

Number of Assignments

In general, no Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner can serve on more than two standing committees and four subcommittees of those standing committees (House Rule X, clause 5(b)(2)(A)).

Democrats and Republicans designate exclusive committees and generally limit service to one such panel. Democratic Members of exclusive committees cannot also serve on nonexclusive committees, but they can serve on the Budget or House Administration Committee. Republican Members assigned to the Rules Committee can take "leave with seniority" from one standing committee to serve on Rules.

Democrats and Republicans designate nonexclusive committees and limit Members to service on two such panels, unless the House rules contain other requirements.

Limitations on Assignments

Service on the Ethics Committee is exempt from the two-committee limitation. Service is also limited to three Congresses during any five successive Congresses. (House Rule X, clause 5(a)(3)(B)). Democratic Caucus rules limit service to no more than three Congresses in any five.

Budget Committee members are limited to no more than four Congresses in any six successive Congresses (House Rule X, clause 5(a)(2)(B)). Democratic Caucus rules limit Members to no more than three Congresses in any five. Members may serve for one additional Congress as chair or ranking Member if they assumed leadership in their fourth term on the committee.

Intelligence Committee members are limited to no more than four Congresses in any period of six successive Congresses. There is no term limit for Members selected to serve as chair and ranking Member. (House Rule X, clause 11). In addition, Democratic Caucus rules say Members may not serve on more than one standing committee, although they may take a leave of absence from service on another standing committee to serve on the Intelligence Committee.

Committee and subcommittee chairs are limited to service of six years on the same committee or subcommittee.

"Any other exception to these limitations must be approved by the House upon the recommendation of the respective party caucus or conference." (House Rule X, clause 5.)

Table 1. Categories of Committees

Category

Democrats

Republicans

Exclusive

Appropriations

Appropriations

Rules

Rules

Ways and Means

Ways and Means

Energy and Commerce (for Members first serving on the panel in the 104th Congress and subsequent Congresses)

Energy and Commerce

Financial Services (for Members first serving on the panel in the 109th and subsequent Congresses)

Financial Services

Non-Exclusive

Agriculture

Agriculture

Armed Services

Armed Services

Budget

Budget

Education and The Workforce

Education and The Workforce

Energy and Commerce (for Members who served on the panel before the 104th Congress)

Financial Services (for Members who served on the panel before the 109th Congress)

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs

Homeland Security

Homeland Security

House Administration

House Administration

Judiciary

Judiciary

Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Oversight and Government Reform

Oversight and Government Reform

Science, Space and Technology

Science, Space and Technology

Small Business

Small Business

Transportation and Infrastructure

Transportation and Infrastructure

Veterans' Affairs

Veterans' Affairs

Exempt

Ethics; Select Intelligence (not listed as such but treated as exempt)

Select Intelligence; Ethics

Select Committee on Benghazi (not listed as such but treated as exempt)

Select Committee on Benghazi (not listed as such but treated as exempt)

Source: Compiled by the author from her analysis of Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference rules.