Joint Committee (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms

Joint Committee

fetlock joint of a horse, by Matt Lavin
fetlock joint of a horse, by Matt Lavin

Committees including membership from both the House and the Senate. A joint committee may be investigative or research oriented. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation. As of 2018 only five joint committees remain: Joint Committee on Printing, Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, Joint Committee on Taxation, Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and Joint Economic Committee.

None has the authority to report legislation. Standing joint committees are permanent joint committees established by law. The law fixes the number of the majority and minority members from each chamber. Chairmanship usually alternates between the House and Senate members from Congress to Congress.

The Joint Committee on Taxation plays an important role in estimating the budgetary effect of tax legislation.

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