In addition to deciding how to vote on legislation, committees also provide important oversight of the executive branch by questioning witnesses at public hearings. They play a big role in the confirmation process for high-ranking positions like federal judges. And, of course, they conduct important hearings on issues that affect the lives of every American.
Normally, when the work of a committee is finished, the committee will write a report on it that describes its purpose and scope. The report is then sent to the House or Senate for consideration by both houses. When the report is approved, it becomes a law. This is called a bill becoming “reported.” If the bill is passed by both chambers and signed by the president, it becomes a law.
Some lawmakers have pressed the Ethics Committee to release a long report on its investigation of former Rep. Dennis Boner, R-Oklahoma. The committee’s outside counsel uncovered multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior by the former lawmaker. The committee opted not to release the full report, but did publish a short staff one. The committee said it was following its general policy against issuing reports in cases of sitting members, but felt that the public had a right to know the results of the inquiry up until the time when Boner left Congress.
Many members of the Jan. 6 select committee are worried about Trump retaliation and want to make sure that they are protected by law, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The panel’s chair, Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson, held a private call in late November with other Democrats who served on the panel and some of their advisers to discuss how they could protect themselves. Some of the group are concerned that accepting a pardon might be seen as admitting guilt.
The committee has already been in the news for its partisanship and for a meeting that featured high-profile witnesses who offered damning testimony about Trump’s efforts to cling to power. But now, it’s facing pressure from both parties to help protect the lawmakers who serve on the committee.
Getting a seat on a committee is a major goal for many members, especially those with ambitions of becoming the next House or Senate majority leader. The selection process for committee seats is often highly competitive, and the outcome can be determined by how well a member plays with his or her fellow party members. To secure a spot, members will often transfer their own campaign funds into the party leadership’s fund to show that they are committed to the party and have the potential to become a future leader. That way, they can show that they have the support of other members and the confidence of leadership. Then, they have a good chance of being selected for a committee. This is especially true if a member has been involved in previous successful committees. Those members have a better shot at being selected for a future chairmanship.