the constitution makes no mention of them, yet these bodies play an essential role in the lawmaking process. their job is to sift through and decide the fate of bills. what are they?

a. quorums
b. committees of the whole
c. standing committees
d. conference committees
a.

Please check your text. I'm sure it's one of the three committees.

C.standing committees

The correct answer is c. standing committees.

To arrive at this answer, we can start by understanding the given information. The question states that these bodies play an essential role in the lawmaking process, but they are not mentioned in the constitution. Additionally, their job is to review and determine the fate of bills.

Understanding the legislative process in the United States can help us figure out the answer. The legislature consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each chamber has several committees responsible for different aspects of legislation. These committees are where most of the legislative work gets done.

First, let's explore the options provided and see which one fits the description:
a. Quorums: Quorums refer to the minimum number of members needed for a legislative body to conduct business. While quorums are important in ensuring that a sufficient number of representatives or senators are present for a vote, they do not have the specific role mentioned in the question.

b. Committees of the Whole: Committees of the Whole are temporary bodies formed by the entire legislative body, where all the members of the chamber come together as a single committee to consider and debate specific bills or issues. However, this type of committee is not responsible for sifting through bills or deciding their fate.

c. Standing committees: Standing committees are permanent committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They have jurisdiction over specific policy areas, such as judiciary, finance, education, etc. Standing committees are responsible for conducting hearings, reviewing bills, amending legislation, and making recommendations to the full chamber. This aligns with the description given in the question.

d. Conference committees: Conference committees are temporary committees created when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. They are responsible for reconciling the differences and producing a single version of the bill that both chambers can agree on. Conference committees work at the final stages of the legislative process and do not have the mentioned role of sifting through bills.

Based on the information provided and the understanding of the legislative process, the correct answer is c. standing committees. They are the bodies that play an essential role in the lawmaking process by reviewing and deciding the fate of bills.