What type of committee is considered the basic unit of deliberation in both the House and Senate?

The standing committee is recognized as the basic unit of deliberation in both the House and Senate. These committees are permanent fixtures within Congress and exist from one session of Congress to the next. Their primary function is to review proposed legislation, conduct hearings, and perform oversight of federal agencies.

Standing committees focus on specific subject areas, such as finance, foreign affairs, or education, allowing members to develop a greater expertise in those domains. This specialized knowledge is crucial for effective legislative processing and ensures that laws are carefully considered before being brought to the floor for a vote.

In contrast, ad-hoc committees are temporary and established for a specific purpose, select committees also focus on a particular issue but may not have the permanence of a standing committee, and conference committees are temporary arrangements used to reconcile differences in legislation passed by the House and Senate.