What are the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation?

• A. Standing committees
• B. Rider
• C. Rules Committee
• D. Bill of Attainder Clause

Answer: (A)

In Congress, the main way lawmaking is organized is through standing committees. These are permanent panels in each chamber, each with jurisdiction over a broad policy area (like finance, agriculture, or foreign affairs). They exist session after session, building subject-matter expertise and maintaining staff and procedures to handle proposed laws. When a bill is introduced, it’s sent to the appropriate standing committee, where members hear from experts, draft or amend the bill, and decide whether to report it back to the full chamber for debate. This ongoing, specialized work is what makes standing committees the permanent groups that handle legislation.

A rider is just an extra provision attached to a bill, not a committee. The Rules Committee in the House sets rules and schedules for debate, guiding how bills are considered rather than handling the detailed policy work across different areas. The Bill of Attainder Clause is a constitutional prohibition, not a committee.