committee of the whole house: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist Political/Legal)Formal, Parliamentary, Legal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “committee of the whole house” mean?
A parliamentary procedure where the entire membership of a legislative body (like the House of Commons or House of Representatives) transforms itself into a committee to consider legislation in a more informal, less restrictive debating format.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A parliamentary procedure where the entire membership of a legislative body (like the House of Commons or House of Representatives) transforms itself into a committee to consider legislation in a more informal, less restrictive debating format.
A temporary committee comprising all members of a legislative chamber, operating under modified rules that allow for freer debate, more flexible speaking times, and the ability to consider and amend legislation clause-by-clause before returning to the formal session for a final vote.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both UK Parliament (House of Commons) and US Congress (House of Representatives), though procedural details and frequency of use differ. In the UK, it is less commonly used today for government bills, often replaced by other committee stages. In the US House, it is a rare but available procedure.
Connotations
Connotes detailed, less partisan scrutiny. In the UK, it may be seen as a somewhat archaic or exceptional procedure for major constitutional matters. In the US, it is a rarely invoked tool for considering significant legislation.
Frequency
Infrequent in modern practice in both jurisdictions. More likely encountered in historical texts, constitutional studies, or descriptions of parliamentary procedure.
Grammar
How to Use “committee of the whole house” in a Sentence
The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole house.The bill was considered in committee of the whole house.The Chairman of Ways and Means presided over the committee of the whole house.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “committee of the whole house” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Minister will face further questioning when the House goes into committee of the whole house next Tuesday.
- The archaic title 'Chairman of Ways and Means' is revived for presiding over a committee of the whole house.
American English
- The House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole to amend the appropriations bill.
- Using the Committee of the Whole is a tactic to allow for more open debate on the floor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used in political science, constitutional law, and parliamentary history papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; limited to news reports about specific, major parliamentary events.
Technical
Core term in texts on parliamentary procedure and legislative process.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “committee of the whole house”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “committee of the whole house”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “committee of the whole house”
- Using it as a plural ('committees of the whole house').
- Confusing it with a standing committee.
- Omitting 'the' ('committee of whole house').
- Incorrect capitalisation when not at the start of a sentence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are fundamentally different. A standing committee is a small, permanent subset of members. A committee of the whole house is a temporary procedural state involving every single member of the chamber.
In the UK House of Commons, the Chairman of Ways and Means or a Deputy Speaker presides. In the US House of Representatives, a member appointed by the Speaker chairs the 'Committee of the Whole'.
It allows for more flexible, detailed, and less partisan clause-by-clause debate on a bill by the entire membership, before the final votes in the formal session.
Its use has declined significantly in daily parliamentary practice (especially in the UK), but it remains an important concept in procedural rulebooks and for specific, major pieces of legislation.
A parliamentary procedure where the entire membership of a legislative body (like the House of Commons or House of Representatives) transforms itself into a committee to consider legislation in a more informal, less restrictive debating format.
Committee of the whole house is usually formal, parliamentary, legal, academic in register.
Committee of the whole house: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmɪti əv ðə ˌhəʊl ˈhaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmɪdi əv ðə ˌhoʊl ˈhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it to the Committee of the Whole”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the entire 'House' of Parliament forms one big 'committee' – it's the WHOLE house acting as a committee.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LEGISLATURE IS A WORKSHOP (during this stage, it shifts from formal theater to a more hands-on working group).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'committee of the whole house'?