Which type of congressional committee is typically a permanent body with specific legislative responsibilities?

• A. Select
• B. Standing
• C. Conference
• D. Joint

Answer: (B)

Standing committees are permanent bodies in Congress with ongoing legislative responsibilities. They exist across sessions and are organized around specific subject areas, such as appropriations or education. Their main tasks include drafting and amending legislation, conducting hearings, and overseeing agencies within their jurisdiction. This permanence and focused mandate distinguish them from other types: select committees are temporary and formed for a particular issue; conference committees are temporary panels that reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill; joint committees involve members from both chambers but typically handle specific tasks rather than the broad, continuous legislative work. Because the question describes a permanent group with defined legislative duties, the best answer is standing committees.