To create such a committee, the House approves a simple resolution, or incorporates language creating a select committee into another resolution, such as the ones reported by the Rules Committee or the House Administration Committee. The resolution may create a study committee, with directions to make recommendations for legislation, or it could grant legislative authority to the select committee—authority to report legislation to the House. There have been four ad hoc select committees with legislative authority created since 1974—
Ad Hoc Select Committee on the Outer Continental Shelf (94 th -95 th Congresses), Ad Hoc Select Committee on Energy (95 th Congress), Select Committee on Homeland Security (107 th Congress), and Select Committee on Homeland Security (108 th Congress). The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is not included in this group or this analysis since it is a permanent committee. Past Ad Hoc Select Committees

The principal explanation offered in creating each of the four select committees with legislative authority was that their creation solved jurisdictional problems. The proponents in each case indicated that multiple committees claimed jurisdiction over a subject and that the House would be unable to legislate, or at least legislate efficiently, in the absence of a select committee. The reason advanced for creating the Select Committee on Homeland Security in the 108 th Congress was slightly different: it provided a transition committee responsible for homeland security while the House decided whether and how to reorganize its committees to accommodate the new Department of Homeland Security. The aspects analyzed are the purpose of granting legislative authority, jurisdiction and referral, the relationship between the select committees and the standing committees of jurisdiction, reporting deadlines, membership and chairmanship, resources made available to the select committees, floor and post-passage consideration of the legislation reported by the select committees, and the select committees' life-spans. While this report focuses on the creation of ad hoc select committees with legislative authority, it is worthwhile to briefly examine the justification given for this decision in the case of the four select committees. In the instance of the Outer Continental Shelf select committees, Energy select committee, and Homeland Security select committee (107 th Congress), majority leadership firmly supported the select committees once they were created. Conclusion

In developing legislation matched to a strategic policy goal, a number of advantages can accrue to the House by using an ad hoc select committee with legislative authority. A select committee, however, cannot guarantee success, although there are some factors that might increase the potential for success. One option is to use a select committee with legislative authority.
The House can readily create an ad hoc (temporary) select committee by approving a simple resolution that contains language establishing the committee—giving a purpose, defining membership, and detailing other aspects. The House may create a study committee, with directions to make recommendations for legislation, or it may grant legislative authority to the select committee—authority to report legislation to the House. This report analyzes the use, results, components, and attributes of House ad hoc select committees with legislative authority.
There have been four ad hoc select committees with legislative authority created in the last 35 years, which are examined in this report—
Ad Hoc Select Committee on the Outer Continental Shelf (94th-95th Congresses), Ad Hoc Select Committee on Energy (95th Congress), Select Committee on Homeland Security (107th Congress), and Select Committee on Homeland Security (108th Congress).
The principal explanation offered in creating each of the four select committees with legislative authority was that their creation solved jurisdictional problems. The proponents in each case indicated that multiple committees claimed jurisdiction over a subject and that the House would be unable to legislate, or at least to legislate efficiently, in the absence of a select committee. The creation of the Outer Continental Shelf select committee may have been a early test case of new House rules that recognized the potential need for such a committee. The Energy select committee and the Homeland Security select committee (107th Congress) centralized important aspects of committee decision making to develop comprehensive legislation on subject matter that was widely diffused in House committees. The reason advanced for creating the Select Committee on Homeland Security in the 108th Congress was slightly different: it provided a transition committee responsible for homeland security while the House decided whether and how to reorganize its committees to accommodate the new Department of Homeland Security.
In creating a select committee with legislative authority, considerations include what legislative authority to grant, jurisdiction and referral, the relationship between the select committee and the standing committees of jurisdiction, reporting deadline, membership and chairmanship, resources made available to the select committee, floor and post-passage consideration of the legislation reported by the select committee, and the select committee's life-span.
In developing legislation matched to a strategic policy goal, a number of advantages can accrue to the House by using an ad hoc select committee with legislative authority, including efficiency, transparency, a new forum, coherence, and cohesiveness. A select committee, however, cannot guarantee speed after the committee phase, majority support, compromise and comity, or bicameral agreement. Some factors that might better ensure the effectiveness of a select committee are its bipartisan creation, leadership support for its work, the support of standing committees, adequate time for deliberation, and a single purpose for the select committee's existence and work.
The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is not analyzed in this report since it is a permanent, not an ad hoc, committee.