U.S. House Committees

Every Representative serves on a set of standing committees that focus on specific policy areas, such as Appropriations, Ways and Means, Judiciary, or Foreign Affairs. Most bills are shaped, amended, and debated in these committees long before they reach the House floor.

Each committee is led by a Chair from the majority party and a Ranking Member from the minority party. The Chair controls the agenda — what gets a hearing, what gets marked up, and which issues get prioritized.

Committee assignments are decided by party leadership and approved by each party's conference at the start of a new Congress. Seniority, policy interests, and internal party politics all shape who ends up on which committee — and who gets the gavel.