Congressional Committees

Why Committees Matter

Most of Congress's real work happens in committees — not on the floor. Committees hold hearings, mark up bills, approve spending, and conduct oversight of federal agencies. A bill's fate is usually decided in committee long before it reaches a floor vote.

Committee chairs control what gets heard and what gets buried. Knowing which committees your representatives sit on tells you where they have real power — and what industries are lobbying them the hardest.