Editing Committee (section)

==Purpose==
A [[deliberative assembly]] or other organization may form a committee (or "commission") consisting of one or more persons to assist with the work of the assembly.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title = [[Robert's Rules of Order]] Newly Revised|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = Da Capo Press|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-306-82020-5|location = Philadelphia, PA|page = 489|edition = 11th|display-authors=etal}}</ref> For larger organizations, much work is done in committees.<ref name=":4">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 490}}</ref> They can be a way to formally draw together people of relevant expertise from different parts of an organization who otherwise would not have a good way to share information and coordinate actions. They may have the advantage of widening viewpoints and sharing out responsibilities. They can also be appointed with experts to recommend actions in matters that require specialized knowledge or technical judgment.

=== Functions ===
Committees can serve several different functions:
;Governance:  In organizations considered too large for all the members to participate in decisions affecting the organization as a whole, a smaller body, such as a board of directors, is given the power to make decisions, spend money, or take actions. A ''governance committee'' is formed as a separate committee to review the performance of the board and board policy as well as nominate candidates for the board.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.guidestar.org/Articles.aspx?path=/rxa/news/articles/2012/need-to-improve-a-governance-committee.aspx|title = So You Need (to Improve) a Governance Committee?|date = April 2012|access-date = 17 December 2015|website = guidestar.org|publisher = [[GuideStar]]|last = Walker|first = Dick|last2 = Bauser|first2 = John|archive-date = 25 June 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170625061352/https://www.guidestar.org/Articles.aspx?path=/rxa/news/articles/2012/need-to-improve-a-governance-committee.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref>
; {{Anchor|Coordination committee|Coordination subcommittee}} Coordination and administration: A large body may have smaller committees with more specialized functions. Examples are an audit committee, an elections committee, a finance committee, a fundraising committee, and a program committee. Large [[Convention (meeting)|conventions]] or [[academic conference]]s are usually organized by a coordinating committee drawn from the membership of the organization.
; {{Anchor|Research committee|Research subcommittee}} Research and recommendations: Committees may be formed to do research and make recommendations on a potential or planned project or change.  For example, an organization considering a major [[Fixed investment|capital investment]] might create a temporary working committee of several people to review options and make recommendations to upper management or the board of directors.
;Discipline:{{Anchor|Disciplinary committee|Research subcommittee}}A committee on discipline may be used to handle disciplinary procedures for members of the organization.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 669}}</ref>

;As a tactic for indecision: As a means of [[public relations]] by sending sensitive, inconvenient, or irrelevant matters to committees, organizations may bypass, stall, or disacknowledge matters without declaring a formal policy of inaction or indifference. However, this could be considered a [[Dilatory motions and tactics|dilatory tactic]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 172}}</ref>

=== Power and authority ===
Generally, committees are required to report to their parent body. They do not usually have the power to act independently unless the body that created it gives it such power.<ref name=":4" />