US/Senate
legal
| US/Senate link ModernHistoryProject Website | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | legal |
| Subgroups | Broadcasting Board of Governors, United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics, United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, US Senate/Committee on Indian Affairs, US Senate/Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, US Senate/Committee on Appropriations, US Senate/Committee on Armed Services, US Senate/Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs, US Senate/Committee on the Budget, US Senate/Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation, US Senate/Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, US Senate/Committee on Environment and Public Works, US Senate/Committee on Finance, US Senate/Committee on Foreign Relations, US Senate/Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions, US Senate/Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, US Senate/Committee on the Judiciary, US Senate/Committee on Rules and Administration, US Senate/Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, US Senate/Committee on Veterans' Affairs |
Structure
The Senate uses committees (and their subcommittees) for a variety of purposes, including the review of bills and the oversight of the executive branch. Formally, the whole Senate appoints committee members. In practice, however, the choice of members is made by the political parties. Generally, each party honors the preferences of individual senators, giving priority based on seniority. Each party is allocated seats on committees in proportion to its overall strength.
de facto subgroups
Agencies such as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, while claimed to be "independent, autonomous entitities"[1] is nevertheless headed by a board appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The ninth member ex officio is the Secretary of State.