Today, they usually are permanent panels that conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks rather than consider measures. View the joint committees of the House of Representatives. Return to the top of page 8. Most committees form subcommittees with legislative jurisdiction to consider and report bills in particular issues within the purview of the full committee. Committees may assign their subcommittees such specific tasks as the initial consideration of measures and oversight of laws and programs in their areas.
Subcommittees are responsible to and work with guidelines established by their parent committees.
Consequently, their number, independence, and autonomy vary among committees. Return to the top of page 9. Committees frequently hold hearings to receive testimony from individuals not on the committee. Hearings may be for legislative, oversight, or investigative purposes. Legislative hearings are those addressing measures before the committee, and they may address many measures on a given subject.