CONSIDERATION BY COMMITTEE
One of the first actions taken by a committee is to seek the input of the relevant departments and agencies about a bill. Frequently, the bill is also submitted to the General Accounting Office with a request for an official report of views on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. Normally, ample time is given for the submission of the reports and they are accorded serious consideration. However, these reports are not binding on the committee in determining whether or not to act favorably on the bill.
Reports of the
departments and agencies in the executive branch are submitted first to the
Office of Management and Budget to determine whether they are consistent with
the program of the President. Many committees adopt rules requiring referral of
measures to the appropriate subcommittee unless the full committee votes to
retain the measure at the full committee.