standing committee

/ˌstændɪŋ kəˌmɪdi/

Other forms: standing committees

In the U.S., a standing committee is a permanent legislative group that meets regularly to work on a specific subject of policy, like finance or foreign relations.

There are currently more than 40 standing committees in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including Indian affairs, agriculture, technology, and homeland security. At the start of each new legislative session, representatives are assigned to serve on two standing committees. These groups meet regularly to debate proposed legislation connected to their subject, deciding whether or not to bring bills before the entire House for a full vote. Though their membership changes, standing committees are permanent.

Definitions of standing committee

1. noun

   a permanent legislative group that works on one subject
   types:

   Ways and Means Committee

   a permanent committee of the United States House of Representatives that makes recommendations to the US House on all bills that would raise revenue

   type of:

   commission, committee

   a special group delegated to consider some matter