16 January 2003
How Senate Panels Shape U.S. Foreign and Military Policy
(Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Select Committee on
Intelligence) (850)
By Kristofer Angle
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington - While the Senate divides its tasks among 20 committees,
68 subcommittees, and 4 joint committees, there are three Senate
panels that have a special impact on the conduct of U.S. foreign
policy.
They are the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
With Republicans in control of the Senate by a 51-48 margin, with one
Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, they hold the
chairmanship and the majority in the committees in the new Congress.
Within each committee, the chairman is usually the dominant figure,
although his powers are not so dominant as in the past.
How fast a bill moves through the committee, and how well it survives
intact, depends on a number of factors. If, for example, the chairman
or a senior member of the committee sponsored the bill, prospects for
passage are much better than if the bill were offered by someone not
on the committee or contrary to the committee's stand on an issue.
Bills introduced by request of the administration also have a much
better chance of timely committee action, especially if the committee
chairman is of the same party as the President.
Without these factors, or a significant amount of public support, a
chairman can virtually ignore a bill or resolution, effectively
burying it in committee so that it never reaches the full Senate for
action.
In the 108th Congress, Republicans hold a 13-12 margin on the Armed
Services Committee, with Senator John Warner (Republican of Virginia)
as chairman.
The GOP ("Grand Old Party" -- as Republicans call themselves) holds a
10-9 advantage on the Foreign Relations Committee, with Senator
Richard Lugar (Republican of Indiana) as chairman.
On the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Republicans have a 9-8
margin, with Senator Pat Roberts (Republican of Kansas) as chairman.
Each party assigns its own members to committees, and each committee
distributes its members among its subcommittees.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, notes its Web site, has
jurisdiction over the aeronautical and space activities associated
with the development of weapons systems or military operations; the
common defense; the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army,
the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force,
generally; military research and development; national security
aspects of nuclear energy; naval petroleum reserves; and strategic and
critical materials necessary for the common defense as well as other
matters relating to U.S. service personnel.
The Armed Services panel, along with its six subcommittees (Airland
Forces, Readiness and Management Support, Emerging Threats and
Capabilities, Sea Power, Strategic Forces, and Personnel) conducts
comprehensive studies and reviews of issues affecting the common
defense policy of the United States.
The Foreign Relations Committee domain extends to proposed
legislation, messages, and other matters relating to foreign policy
matters including, treaties and executive agreements; national
security; intervention abroad and declarations of war; foreign
economic, military, technical, and humanitarian assistance; foreign
loans; international conferences, congresses and laws relating to
foreign policy; measures to foster and safeguard international
commerce, protection of United States citizens abroad and
expatriation, U.S. policy toward and participation in international
organizations such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank; and the U.S. diplomatic service.
The Foreign Relations panel also studies matters relating to U.S.
national security policy, foreign policy, and international economic
policy as it relates to food, hunger, and nutrition in foreign
countries, and reports on these matters to the full Senate from time
to time.
The Foreign Relations Committee divides its subcommittees between
geographic areas and functional lines. Among the subcommittees dealing
with geographic areas are the Subcommittees on African Affairs, East
Asian and Pacific Affairs, Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, and
European Affairs. Subcommittees dealing with functional areas include
International Economic Policy/Export and Trade Promotion and
International Operations and Terrorism.
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence oversees and makes
continuing studies of the intelligence activities and programs of the
United States Government, submits to the Senate proposals for
legislation, and reports to the Senate concerning intelligence
activities and programs.
The Select Committee cannot initiate an investigation of an
intelligence matter unless at least five of the seventeen members
specifically request it.
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has jurisdiction over the
Central Intelligence Agency and intelligence activities of all other
departments and agencies of the Government, including the Department
of State and insures that these agencies provide informed and timely
intelligence necessary for both the executive and legislative branches
to make sound decisions affecting U.S. security and the nation's vital
interests.
The panel also insures that intelligence activities conform to the
Constitution and U.S. laws.
The panel has no subcommittees. The committee is unique in that it is
required to have a Democrat and a Republican from the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, with seven other
members appointed from the Senate at large.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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