ommittees serve two broad purposes: individual and institutional. Define these purposes and give an example of a situation that illustrates each purpose.

What will be an ideal response?

The two broad purposes are individual (i.e., lawmakers using committee assignments to benefit their constituents and develop personal expertise) and institutional (that is, dividing up the work of Congress and acting as the centers of policy making, oversight, and educational hearings). Examples will vary, including the following: An individual example would be a member who uses his appointment on the Agriculture committee to fight for a subsidy for corn farmers, since a large proportion of his constituents are corn farmers. An institutional example would be the Veteran’s Affairs Committee holding hearings on the provision of health benefits to veterans.