Member
requests: At the beginning of a new Congress, Members request
assignments to the committees they prefer. The incumbent Members those
who are not new usually keep the committee assignments they have
because they have expertise and seniority. Party approval: Each political party uses a committee in charge of
committee assignments to recommend assignments. This committee on
committees matches the Member requests with available committee seats,
prepares and approves an assignment slate for each committee, and
submits all slates to the full party for approval. The full party meets
to approve the recommendations. Full Chamber approval: Each committee now made up of members from
each political party submits its slate to the full Chamber for
approval. When a committee member resigns or is assigned to another
committee, all of Congress is notified.
