committee of the whole

noun

1. the entire membership of a legislative body, sitting in a deliberative rather than a legislative capacity, for informal debate and preliminary consideration of matters awaiting legislative action.

Word History and Origins

Origin of committee of the whole¹

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

“Everybody has been meeting — you can say the committee of the whole — because everybody has had access to McCarthy. There’s no question,” he said.

From Washington Post

This is most definitely not the “committee of the whole,” a term that Bishop, Burchett and other Republicans also latched onto to justify their abandonment of earlier promises.

From Washington Post

The actual committee of the whole would involve the full House convening in public and taking up legislation that has already been considered by a legislative committee, and then debating and amending that bill under special rules that can expedite the process.

From Washington Post

Main debate: This is the first of two days of Committee of the Whole House on the Illegal Migration Bill.

From BBC

Main debate: Day two of Committee of the Whole House on the Illegal Migration Bill - including clauses permanently banning people from the UK if they've entered illegally.

From BBC