Making laws
joint committee
A committee with members from both chambers. Most are permanent and analytical, such as the Joint Committee on Taxation, and do not report legislation.
In full
Joint committees mix House and Senate members. Unlike a conference committee, which is assembled for one bill and dissolved, standing joint committees persist: the Joint Committee on Taxation scores revenue bills, the Joint Economic Committee studies the economy, and others oversee the Library of Congress and federal printing. They generally study and advise rather than move legislation.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.