standing committee

American  

noun

1. a permanent committee, as of a legislature, society, etc., intended to consider all matters pertaining to a designated subject.

2. (initial capital letters) the highest policymaking body of the Chinese Communist Party, composed of top party leaders from the Politburo.

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standing committee British  

noun

1. a permanent committee appointed to deal with a specified subject

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Etymology

Origin of standing committee

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Real influence lies within a smaller standing committee elected from congress delegates, which meets every couple of months.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

He was elected a member of one of China’s most prestigious political bodies, the standing committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

From Reuters • Aug. 31, 2023

Another returnee from the previous standing committee, Wang Huning is from an academic background, having been a professor of international politics at Shanghai’s Fudan University and a senior adviser to two of Xi’s predecessors.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2023

The parliament on Sunday also proposed amendments to a lawmaking procedure during an emergency that would allow its decision-making standing committee to skip multiple rounds of discussion before passing legislation.

From Washington Post • Mar. 5, 2023

It was moved that Messrs. McRoy, Gervais, Martin, S. Smith, Dougherty, O’Neil, Shortess, and Lucie be the standing committee; which motion was carried.

From A History of Oregon, 1792-1849 Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information by Gray, William Henry