Template:Infobox U.S. congressional committee

File:Test Template Info-Icon - Version (2).svg Template documentation[view] [edit] [history] [purge]

This template is the standard infobox to be used on pages for United States congressional committees, past and present, in both the Senate and House, along with joint committees, intended to contain information about a committee's history, current leadership and structure by party, jurisdiction and oversight authority, subcommittees, meeting place, and links to official external resources.

Full syntax

{{Infobox U.S. congressional committee
| name               =
| type               = <!-- see documentation for list of different predefined types -->
| chamber            = <!-- either "house", "senate", or "joint" -->
| congress           = <!-- e.g. "115th" for the 115th Congress -->
| parent             = 
| image              =
| image_size         =
| caption            =
| status             = <!-- either "active" or "defunct" -->
| formed             =
| disbanded          =
| succeeded          =
| preceded           =
| merged             =
| former_names       =
| chair              =
| chair_party        = <!-- either "R", "D", or "I" -->
| chair_since        = 
| ranking_member     = 
| rm_party           = 
| rm_since           =
| vice_chair         = 
| vc_party           = 
| vc_since           = 
| chair_emeritus     = 
| ce_party           = 
| ce_since           =
| seats              =
| majority1          = <!-- either "R", "D", or "I" -->
| majority1_seats    =
| majority2          = 
| majority2_seats    =
| minority1          = 
| minority1_seats    = 
| minority2          = 
| minority2_seats    = 
| purpose            =
| policy_areas       = 
| oversight          = 
| counterpart        =
| subcommittees      = <!-- use {{bulleted list|list_style=text-align:left|}} for formatting -->
| meeting_place      = 
| meeting_image      =
| meeting_img_size   =
| website            = 
| minority_website   =
| chamber_rules      =
| committee_rules    =
| notes              =
}}

Parameters and descriptions

The following is a relatively exhaustive description of the many parameters for this infobox, but no single article for a committee will need to use all parameters. Only add information about a committee in the infobox if it seems useful and reasonable. This template will be most useful for current committees, mainly regarding information about current leadership, though it will also be useful for other various historic committees. Articles for older minor committees with little prose might not benefit much from an infobox, and if unsure if one should be added, see WP:DISINFOBOX for useful guidelines.

Parameter	Explanation
name	Name of the committee, preferably a shortened version, for example, "Senate Judiciary Committee", as opposed to "United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary".
type	This parameter is used to specify the type of the congressional committee. Even if a committee has since been abolished, its type still will be the same; its status (either "active" or "defunct") is listed directly below the type to avoid confusion regarding standing committees that no longer exist. For example, the Senate Committee on Coast Defenses, a former standing committee, should still have this parameter value equal standing, even though it still doesn't exist; its status below the type would be listed as "defunct". This parameter accepts the following predefined values: standing, standing committees are explicitly defined under House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV, consisting of the most vital and established committees in congress, such as the House Ways and Means Committee sub, for subcommittees of standing committees select, select committees are created for specific, more narrowly-defined purposes; generally synonymous with "special committee", though "select" is more commonly used. When determining to use "select" or "special", use whatever is in the official name of the committee. Note that select and special committees sometimes have "permanent" in their names; if that is the case, use select-permanent or special-permanent. special, special committees are generally the same as "select" committees; use if "special" is in the committee's official name sub-select, use for subcommittees of select committees sub-special, use for subcommittees of special committees select-permanent, use for permanent select committees special-permanent, use for permanent special committees sub-select-permanent, use for subcommittees of permanent select committees sub-special-permanent, use for subcommittees of permanent special committees joint, use for joint committees, which consist of members from both the House and Senate caucus, use for congressional caucuses that serve similar functions as committees If there is another type beyond these that is needed, this parameter can be overridden manually. If this parameter is left blank, by default "U.S. congressional committee" is displayed.
chamber	The chamber (or house) the committee is apart of; three predefined values are valid input: house, for a committee in the House of Representatives senate, for a committee in the Senate joint, for a joint committee between both the House and Senate
congress	This field should be set to the current Congress's number if the committee is active; for example, "115th" for the 115th Congress or "93rd" for the 93rd Congress. For defunct committees that existed over the span of multiple congresses, this parameter should generally not be used, but it can be used for special and select committees that existed for only one congress. The congress will be displayed below the seal and chamber name if a value is supplied.
parent	If the article is for a subcommittee, this parameter is used to denote its "parent committee", or the larger committee it is apart of. If this parameter is set, it is displayed under the committee's type.
image	Image file parameter for the image below the seal at the top of the infobox. Most appropriately, this should be used for a committee's official seal or logo, or anything else if it seems necessary.
image_size	Used to manually set the image's size if needed; this by default is 24em.
caption	Caption for the image below the seal, if it is needed.
status	Used to specify the current status of a committee, and whether or not it still exists under the current rules of the House and Senate. If the committee currently exists and is active, this should be set to active; if it otherwise has been disbanded, set this parameter to defunct. This parameter can also be set to something other than these two predefined values if it seems appropriate.
formed	This parameter specifies the date the committee came into existence. If an exact date can't be found, the year will be acceptable; if that can't definitely be determined, list the congress it was formed. If there is a case where a committee was formed, disbanded, and reestablished, it may be necessary to list multiple dates.
disbanded	The date a committee was disbanded, expired, was terminated, or ceased to exist; should only be used if committee is defunct.
succeeded	This parameter should be used to denote any committee, or possibly multiple committees depending on the case, that existed prior to the given committee's formation that covered a similar jurisdiction and/or existed for a similar purpose.
preceded	If a given committee is defunct and has been disbanded, this parameter should be used to specify any later committee(s) that replaced the given committee's jurisdiction or purpose, in full or in part.
merged	If a given committee was merged with another separate committee existing at the time to form a new committee, this parameter should be used to specify that separate committee.
former_names	This parameter should be used to specify any names a given committee may have been called in the past. Other committee names listed here should only be names associated with committee that is the subject of the article containing the infobox, not containing names of other separate committees with their own articles (or deserving their own articles). For example, the "House Committee on Natural Resources" was at once called the "House Committee on Resources", though their jurisdiction and structure never changed, making it a former name and not a separate committee in its own right.
chair	Parameter is for the chair of the committee, if it is currently active; the chair is almost always a member of the majority party.
chair_party	Parameter is for the party affiliation of the chair, and accepts three predefined values: R, for the Republican Party D, for the Democratic Party I, for independent politicians If one of the predefined values is supplied, the party affiliation will appear next to the chair's name. If another value is needed beyond these values, it can be overridden manually.
chair_since	Parameter is for the date the chair assumed the position.
ranking_member	Parameter is for the ranking member of the committee, if it is currently active; the ranking member is almost always a member of the minority party. In some cases, the chief member of the minority party on a given committee is called the vice chair, meaning in that case ranking member should not be used; despite this, sometimes committees have a ranking member (in the minority party), while also having the additional committee position of vice chair being held by a member in the majority party.
rm_party	The party affiliation of the ranking member ("rm"), following the same standards described above for chair party.
rm_since	Parameter is for the date the ranking member assumed the position.
vice_chair	If applicable to the committee, the parameter is for the committee's vice chair, which, depending on the committee, is either the equivalent of the ranking member in the minority party, or it is a secondary position for the majority party on the committee existing alongside the ranking member.
vc_party	The party affiliation of the vice chair ("vc"), following the same standards described above for chair party.
vc_since	Parameter is for the date the vice chair took the position.
chair_emeritus	Parameter is for the chair emeritus of a committee, which is present on some committees; it is an honorary position given to a retired chair of a committee (though still in office and sitting on the committee).
ce_party	The party affiliation of the chair emeritus ("ce"), following the same standards described above for chair party.
ce_since	Parameter is for the date the chair emeritus took the position, though for this position this may not be important, but is added anyway.
seats	Parameter is used to specify the number of seats on the committee; for example "43 members"
majority1	The main majority party in power on the committee. Only use if the committee is currently active and existing, not for defunct committees. The party in the majority with the most seats (either the Republicans or Democrats; independents, if any in the majority, should be use majority2) should be listed here. This parameter accepts three predefined values: R, for the Republican Party D, for the Democratic Party I, for independents (will never be used as majority1 or minority1, as independents never hold anywhere near a majority)
majority1_seats	The number of seats held by the majority1 party; should be an integer, as it will be added with majority2_seats to get the full number of seats in the majority. By default this set to 0.
majority2	Any other party in the majority separate from the main majority party, which should usually be only the independents, if there are any. Only values R, D, or I are valid, as explained above.
majority2_seats	The number of seats held by the majority2 party; should be an integer, as it will be added with majority1_seats to get the full number of seats in the majority. By default this set to 0.
minority1	The main minority party existing on the committee. Only use if the committee is currently active and existing, not for defunct committees. The party in the minority with the most seats (either the Republicans or Democrats; independents, if any in the minority, should be use minority2) should be listed here. This parameter only accepts the three predefined values explained above.
minority1_seats	The number of seats held by the minority1 party; should be an integer, as it will be added with minority2_seats to get the full number of seats in the minority. By default this set to 0.
minority2	Any other party in the minority separate from the main minority party, which should usually be only the independents, if there are any. Only values R, D, or I are valid, as explained above.
minority2_seats	The number of seats held by the minority2 party; should be an integer, as it will be added with minority1_seats to get the full number of seats in the majority. By default this set to 0.
purpose	This parameter, which should generally only be used for select or special committees, should be used to specify the purpose the committee was created for, usually in the case of a committee set up for an investigation or other narrowly defined purpose. Should not be used for long-existing standing committees with broad jurisdictions.
policy_areas	This should be used to list the policy areas under the jurisdiction of the committee. If the committee is active, list the committee's current jurisdiction (it could have changed since the committee was formed); if the committee is no longer active, list the policy areas historically associated with the committee.
oversight	This parameter should be used to list any executive departments or agencies the committee has oversight authority over, along with other special confirmation authority, like that for Senate Judiciary Committee confirming Supreme Court justices. It should also list other relevant oversight authority; from some committees to others it will be more complicated, and not all information should or can be put in the infobox, such as for the House Oversight Committee.
counterpart	This should be used to specify the corresponding committee with the same jurisdiction, often with a very similar name, in the other house of congress from the one the committee is in. For example, for the Senate Committee on the Budget, its counterpart would be the House Committee on the Budget.
subcommittees	List all subcommittees of the committee, if it isn't a subcommittee itself, with shortened names; for example, for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, in the article for its parent committee list it as Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. For formatting, use {{bulleted list}} and bold each item in the list. To align the list to left side of the infobox, add the following as the first parameter in the template: list_style=text-align:left.
meeting_place	If the committee is active, use this parameter to add the address (each committee on Capitol Hill generally has their address for where they meet) of where it meets, which can usually be found on the committee's website.
meeting_image	If one can be obtained, add an image of where the committee meets to conduct business; a photo of the committee while in session will be sufficient, even if it isn't in the exact room listed under meeting_place. An image of the building the committee meets in could also be added.
meeting_img_size	The size of the meeting_image if it needs to be overridden manually; by default the image size is set to 280px.
website	If the committee is active, provide the link to the committee's primary website, which should have a .gov domain extension; many committee websites are subdomains of house.gov and senate.gov.
minority_website	Many committees have separate websites for the minority party; if the committee is active, provide the link if it exists. The primary website for a committee will usually have a link to the minority somewhere on the homepage if it exists.
chamber_rules	Under this parameter add the link or citation to the committee's current jurisdiction, if it is active under its respective house or chamber's rules. The jurisdiction for each standing committee in the House as of 115th Congress can be found under Rule X clause 1 in the Rules of the House of Representatives. For example, to cite the jurisdiction for the House Committee on Natural Resources, which is under Rule X clause 1 subclause m, it would appear like the following: Rule X.1(m), Rules of the House of Representatives. In the Senate, each standing committee's jurisdiction is listed under Rule XXV in the Standing Rules of the Senate; for example, to cite the jurisdiction for the Senate Committee on the Budget, which is under Rule XXV clause 1 subclause e, it would appear like the following Rule XXV.1.(e), Standing Rules of the Senate. This mainly applies to current standing committees, but there may be other cases where it is necessary to use this parameter.
committee_rules	In addition to committee's jurisdiction under its chamber's standing rules, individual committees often having their own rules of procedure on their websites, and if it can be found, provide the link if the committee is active.
notes	If there is a need for footnotes or other content for the infobox, place them at the bottom using this parameter.

Examples

Example #1

House Natural Resources Committee

Standing committee
Active File:Seal of the United States House of Representatives.svg United States House of Representatives 115th Congress
File:House Natural Resources Committee logo (2015).png
History
Formed	1995
Succeeded	Committee on Insular Affairs
Formerly known as	House Committee on Resources
Leadership
Chair	Rob Bishop (R) Since January 3, 2015
Ranking member	Raúl Grijalva (D) Since January 3, 2015
Vice chair	Louie Gohmert (R)
Chair emeritus	Don Young (R)
Structure
Seats	43 members
Political parties	Majority (25)   Republican (25) Minority (18)   Democratic (18)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas	Energy development, mining, mineral rights, wildlife, fisheries, public lands, oceans, Native Americans
Oversight authority	Department of Energy
Senate counterpart	Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittees
Energy and Mineral Resources Federal Lands Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Oversight and Investigations Water, Power and Oceans
Meeting place
1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
Website
naturalresources.house.gov democrats-naturalresources.house.gov
Rules
Rule X.1(m), Rules of the House of Representatives Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources

{{Infobox U.S. congressional committee
| name        = House Natural Resources Committee
| chamber     = house
| congress    = 115th
| type        = standing
| parent      = 
| image       = File:House Natural Resources Committee logo (2015).png
| image_size  = 300px
| status      = active
| formed      = 1995
| succeeded   = [[United States House Committee on Insular Affairs|Committee on Insular Affairs]]
| former_names = House Committee on Resources
| caption     =
| chair       = [[Rob Bishop]]
| chair_party = R
| chair_since = January 3, 2015
| ranking_member = [[Raúl Grijalva]]
| rm_party       = D
| rm_since       = January 3, 2015
| vice_chair = [[Louie Gohmert]]
| vc_party       = R
| vc_since       = 
| chair_emeritus = [[Don Young]]
| ce_party       = R
| ce_since       =
| seats           = 43 members
| majority1       = R
| majority1_seats = 25
| minority1       = D
| minority1_seats = 18
| policy_areas    = [[Energy development]], [[mining]], [[mineral rights]], [[Wildlife management|wildlife]], [[Fishing industry|fisheries]], [[public land#United States|public lands]], [[ocean governance|oceans]], [[Outline of United States federal Indian law and policy|Native Americans]]
| oversight  = [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]
| counterpart = [[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]]
| subcommittees   = {{bulleted list|list_style=text-align:left|'''[[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources|Energy and Mineral Resources]]'''|'''[[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands|Federal Lands]]'''|'''[[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs|Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs]]'''|'''[[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations|Oversight and Investigations]]'''|'''[[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans|Water, Power and Oceans]]'''}}
| meeting_place   = 1324 Longworth House Office Building<br/>Washington, D.C. 20515
| website         = [https://naturalresources.house.gov/ naturalresources.house.gov]
| minority_website         = [https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/ democrats-naturalresources.house.gov]
| chamber_rules     = [https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules.house.gov/files/115/PDF/House-Rules-115.pdf#page=12 Rule X.1(m), Rules of the House of Representatives]
| committee_rules = [https://naturalresources.house.gov/uploadedfiles/115th_natural_resources_committee_rules_final.pdf Rules for the Committee on Natural Resources]
}}

Example #2

Senate Watergate Committee

Special committee
Defunct File:Seal of the United States Senate.svg United States Senate 93rd Congress
History
Formed	February 7, 1973
Disbanded	abolished after June 27, 1974, when the committee's final report was published
Leadership
Chair	Sam Ervin (D)
Ranking member	Howard Baker (R)
Jurisdiction
Purpose	To investigate "illegal, improper, or unethical activities" conducted by individuals involved with a campaign, nomination, and/or election of any candidate for President of the United States in the 1972 presidential election, and produce a final report with the committee's findings.
Rules
S.Res. 60, 93rd Cong. (1973).

{{Infobox U.S. congressional committee
| name               = Senate Watergate Committee
| type               = special
| chamber            = senate
| congress           = 93rd
| status             = defunct
| formed             = February 7, 1973 
| disbanded          = abolished after June 27, 1974, when the committee's final report was published
| chair              = [[Sam Ervin]]
| chair_party        = D
| ranking_member     = [[Howard Baker]]
| rm_party           = R
| purpose            = To investigate "illegal, improper, or unethical activities" conducted by individuals involved with a campaign, nomination, and/or election of any candidate for [[President of the United States]] in the [[1972 United States presidential election|1972 presidential election]], and produce a final report with the committee's findings.
| chamber_rules      = [https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/senate-resolution/60 S.Res. 60, 93rd Cong. (1973).]
}}

TemplateData

This template is the standard infobox to be used on pages for United States congressional committees, past and present, in both the Senate and House, along with joint committees, intended to contain information about a committee's history, current leadership and structure by party, jurisdiction and oversight authority, subcommittees, meeting place, and links to official external resources.

Template parameters

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
name	name	no description	Unknown	optional
type	type	no description	Unknown	optional
parent	parent	no description	Unknown	optional
status	status	no description	Unknown	optional
chamber	chamber	no description	Unknown	optional
congress	congress	no description	Unknown	optional
image	image	no description	Unknown	optional
image_size	image_size	no description	Unknown	optional
caption	caption	no description	Unknown	optional
formed	formed	no description	Unknown	optional
disbanded	disbanded	no description	Unknown	optional
succeeded	succeeded	no description	Unknown	optional
preceded	preceded	no description	Unknown	optional
merged	merged	no description	Unknown	optional
former_names	former_names	no description	Unknown	optional
counterpart	counterpart	no description	Unknown	optional
chair	chair	no description	Unknown	optional
chair party	chair party	no description	Unknown	optional
chair since	chair since	no description	Unknown	optional
ranking member	ranking member	no description	Unknown	optional
rm party	rm party	no description	Unknown	optional
vice chair	vice chair	no description	Unknown	optional
vc party	vc party	no description	Unknown	optional
vc since	vc since	no description	Unknown	optional
chair emeritus	chair emeritus	no description	Unknown	optional
ce party	ce party	no description	Unknown	optional
ce since	ce since	no description	Unknown	optional
chair_party	chair_party	no description	Unknown	optional
chair_since	chair_since	no description	Unknown	optional
ranking_member	ranking_member	no description	Unknown	optional
rm_party	rm_party	no description	Unknown	optional
rm_since	rm_since	no description	Unknown	optional
vice_chair	vice_chair	no description	Unknown	optional
vc_party	vc_party	no description	Unknown	optional
vc_since	vc_since	no description	Unknown	optional
chair_emeritus	chair_emeritus	no description	Unknown	optional
ce_party	ce_party	no description	Unknown	optional
ce_since	ce_since	no description	Unknown	optional
majority1	majority1	no description	Unknown	optional
majority2	majority2	no description	Unknown	optional
majority1_seats	majority1_seats	no description	Unknown	optional
minority1_seats	minority1_seats	no description	Unknown	optional
majority2_seats	majority2_seats	no description	Unknown	optional
minority2_seats	minority2_seats	no description	Unknown	optional
seats	seats	no description	Unknown	optional
minority1	minority1	no description	Unknown	optional
minority2	minority2	no description	Unknown	optional
purpose	purpose	no description	Unknown	optional
policy_areas	policy_areas	no description	Unknown	optional
oversight	oversight	no description	Unknown	optional
house_counterpart	house_counterpart	no description	Unknown	optional
senate_counterpart	senate_counterpart	no description	Unknown	optional
subcommittees	subcommittees	no description	Unknown	optional
meeting_place	meeting_place	no description	Unknown	optional
meeting_image	meeting_image	no description	Unknown	optional
meeting_img_size	meeting_img_size	no description	Unknown	optional
website	website	no description	Unknown	optional
minority_website	minority_website	no description	Unknown	optional
chamber_rules	chamber_rules	no description	Unknown	optional
committee_rules	committee_rules	no description	Unknown	optional

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