Rules Governing House Committee and Subcommittee Assignment Procedures (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Nov. 13, 2024 |
| Report Number |
R46786 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Michael Greene |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Members of the House are assigned to serve on committees at the start of every Congress. Most
assignments involve a three-step process involving the party caucuses and action on the House
floor. First, a Member is nominated to committee assignments by his or her party’s steering
committee. Next, the full party caucus or conference votes to approve the steering committee’s
nominations. Finally, a simple resolution is introduced and agreed to on the House floor that
formally elects Members to their party-approved committee assignments. These resolutions, by
long-standing practice, have been agreed to without objection as the parties mutually recognize each other’s right to
determine committee assignments for their own Members.
Service on standing and non-standing committees in the House is shaped by both the rules of the House and rules adopted by
the political parties. “Standing committees” are permanently established under House Rule X, as opposed to “non-standing”
committees (e.g., select or joint committees), which are created by resolution or law and are often temporary in nature. The
rules of the House limit Members’ service to no more than two standing committees and not more than four subcommittees
thereon. However, House rules also allow for these restrictions to be waived upon recommendation by either party caucus.
Both the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus have further rules limiting the type and number of committees
Members may serve on. In general, Members of both parties are limited to one committee assignment when serving on an
“exclusive” committee. Otherwise, Members may generally receive two “non-exclusive” committee assignments. The party
caucuses can grant exceptions to these limitations as deemed warranted. In addition, under both parties’ rules, Members are
generally limited to chairing one committee or subcommittee, with some exceptions. The Republican Conference also limits
chairs (and ranking members) to serving for not more than three consecutive terms.
Both the Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference task steering committees with recommending most committee
assignments for their respective memberships. The particulars of this nominating process vary between the two parties, with
each party specifying different factors in the consideration of making assignments. Still other assignments are recommended
directly by the party leader (either the Speaker for the majority or minority leader for the minority)—including to all nonstanding committees. In any case, recommendations for assignments to standing committees must also be approved by a
majority of the full party caucus before final action can be taken on the House floor.
Just as the House elects its Members to committee assignments, so too do committees elect their members to serve on
subcommittees. In general, the Republican Conference vests greater authority in committee chairs in determining
subcommittee assignments. The Democratic Caucus has more formal procedures that all of its committees must follow in
making subcommittee assignments. Unlike committee assignments, subcommittee assignments are not approved on the
House floor.
