Briefly contrast the functions of standing committees with joint, select, and conference committees.

What will be an ideal response?

Standing committees are permanent and do most of the work in Congress. They also have the most legislative authority; they can draft and rewrite legislation as well as recommend to the full chamber whether the legislation should pass. Select committees, in contrast, deal with a specific issue but do not produce legislation. Joint committees also do not provide legislation, but have members of both houses and perform and advisory function. Conference committees exist specifically to reconcile differing versions of the same bill from both the House and Senate.