How are committee leaders selected in congress?
For committees in the United States Congress, the answer appears to be good old-fashioned backroom poiltics. “In the House of Representatives, there are 21 permanent committees, and 20 in the United States Senate. Four joint committees operate with members from both houses on matters of mutual jurisdiction and oversight. Committees in the House of Representatives generally have more members, due its larger size, as compared to the smaller 100-member Senate. Senate rules fix the maximum size for many of its committees, while the House determines the size and makeup of each committee every new Congress. The roster of each committee is officially approved by a full vote of its house. However those decisions (including who will serve as chair of each committee) are made de facto by the party leadership. Considerations in making the assignments include each member’s areas of expertise, the interests of their constituents, and seniority.
