House Committees: Assignment Process Page: 2 of 3
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Committee Sizes and Ratios
Traditionally, the respective party leaders, occasionally with input from committee
leaders, negotiate individual committee sizes and ratios prior to the post-general-election
early organization meetings, when the assignment process officially begins. Sizes are
determined prior to the start of the Congress, although they generally remain fairly
constant year after year. When the size of a committee is increased, it is usually done to
accommodate individual Member requests for service on a particular panel. In the 108th
Congress, the largest House committee had 75 members; the smallest had 10.
Ratios on committees generally reflect party strength in the chamber. However, it is
generally agreed that ratios are done in the aggregate, rather than on a committee-by-
committee basis, in part to retain a "working majority" on the more sought-after
committees, usually the exclusive panels. In contrast to the general practice, one
committee, Standards of Official Conduct, has an equal number of majority and minority
members, while the Rules Committee has a ratio of 2:1, plus one, in favor of the majority.
Factors in Making Assignments
Both parties consider a variety of factors in making assignments, including seniority,
experience, background, ideology, election margin, state delegation support, leadership
support, as well as the special concerns of the Member's district. Further, the leadership
often considers geographic balance in making assignments, with Members of the other
party not usually counted for such purposes. None of these factors, however, is usually
seen as having equal weight for each Member in each instance.
In addition, the rules of the party organizations and the House attempt to ensure an
equitable number of assignments for each Member and an equitable distribution of
assignments to important committees. However, the so-called "property norm" generally
allows returning Members to retain their seats on committees prior to allowing new
Members to seek their assignments. In addition, if sizes and ratios are dramatically
changed, each party might make exceptions to the property norm.
Party Organizations
Both Democrats and Republicans give the assignment function to a "steering
committee." For both parties, the steering committee comprises the elected party
leadership, numerous Members elected by region from the party membership, and
Members appointed by the leadership. Representatives from specific classes - groups
of Members elected in a specific year - are also represented.
Each party Member has a representative on his or her party's steering committee, and
one role of this representative is to advance the individual Member's choices for
assignments. The steering committee for each party votes by secret ballot to arrive at
individual recommendations for assignments to standing committees and forwards those
recommendations to the full party conference or caucus. (Even recommendations for the
House Rules and House Administration Committees' members, which are made by the
Speaker and minority leader, are confirmed by the full party conference.) Once ratified
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Schneider, Judy. House Committees: Assignment Process, report, December 1, 2004; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc805820/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.