Usually, when a House or Senate committee examines a bill, it first holds public hearings on the issue. Those hearings are held to allow lawmakers to hear from experts on the topic at hand. They help inform the committee’s decisions as they work on a measure that may eventually become law. The panel’s recommendations and conclusions are included in a Committee Report that is presented to the parent body for consideration.
Once the report is written, it is voted on by the committee’s members and often amended. If a majority of the committee votes to approve the final measure, it is reported out of committee. The committee may also choose to table the measure or discharge the committee of its duties, which will release it from working on the matter at hand.
In the latter case, the measure is typically returned to its parent body for further consideration. The committee’s report will describe the methods used, facts uncovered and reasons for the recommended approval. The committee may also choose to make extensive amendments and in that case, the result is called a “clean” bill, with the final version having a new House report number. During this process, the committee is subject to Section 1(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 and must be aware that sensitive information will be discussed during deliberations.
When a committee is tasked with the responsibility of investigating a specific policy matter, it is known as an investigative or oversight committee. The committee may be composed of individuals who are Members or staff of either the House or the Senate, depending on the type of inquiry. The committee is often tasked with gathering evidence and making recommendations to its parent body for further action, but may also be asked to take additional actions such as conducting investigations of specific issues or preparing bills.
A committee chair is responsible for running the meetings of a committee. He or she is responsible for keeping the discussion on the appropriate subject, recognizing members to speak and confirming that a decision has been made (through voting or by unanimous consent). A chairman is typically elected to this position and his or her duties are normally set out in a committee rules manual. Meetings are usually conducted in person, but can be conducted via videoconferencing or other means if there are members who cannot attend in person. A chairman is also responsible for organizing the committee’s schedule and arranging hearings on topics or witnesses that have been requested by the committee. The committee chairman may also be responsible for drafting Committee Reports that are submitted to the committee for consideration.