The official name of the Congressional supercommittee is the "Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction." It's a special committee of Members of Congress created by the Budget Control Act of 2011 to come up with a plan no later than November 23 to reduce the federal deficit by an additional $1.2 trillion or more over the next decade.

What are their powers?

Nothing is off the table for the supercommittee.

• They could choose to add to the $1 trillion in discretionary cuts already made,
• they could cut Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act or
• They can make changes to any number of vital programs.

The supercommittee's legislation will be guaranteed an up-or-down vote without amendment by December 23.

What if they fail?

If the supercommittee fails to produce a plan, or if Congress fails to pass their recommendations, automatic across-the-board cuts would be triggered. The process is called sequestration.

In these across-the-board cuts, Medicaid, Social Security, Veteran's benefits and pensions, payments to federal retirement funds, civilian and military retirement and Supplemental Security Income would be exempted. Medicare would take a 2% cut focused on providers. All other programs would be subject to the automatic cuts.

Who are the members of the supercommittee?

By law, the super committee is made up of 12 members: six from the Senate and six from the House. Each delegation is divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans named by their respective party leaders.

Supercommittee members from the Senate:

• Patty Murray (D-WA), Co-Chair
• Max Baucus (D-MT);
• John Kerry (D-MA)
• Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
• Pat Toomey (R-PA)
• Rob Portman (R-OH).

Supercommittee members from the House of Representatives:

• Jeb Hensarling (R-5th/TX), Co-Chair
• Dave Camp (R-4th/MI)
• Fred Upton (R-6th/MI)
• Jim Clyburn (D-6th/SC)
• Xavier Becerra (D-31st/CA)
• Chris Van Hollen (D-8th/MD).

Rules and Deadlines

If a majority of the super committee approves a plan, that plan can only become law once it has been approved by a majority of the House and Senate and signed by President Obama. A veto by the president can only be passed over by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate.

The super committee must vote by November 23 and report to Congress by December 2, 2011. If a majority of the super committee reports a plan, Congress must vote on it by December 23, 2011.

(Source: National Women's Law Center)

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