Which type of panel or committee is permanent in Congress?

The correct answer is the standing committee, which plays a crucial role in the legislative process within Congress. Standing committees are permanent fixtures that handle specific areas of legislation, such as finance, foreign affairs, or health. Their ongoing existence allows them to develop expertise and provide continuous oversight in their designated areas, making them integral to drafting and amending proposed laws.

In contrast, ad hoc committees are temporary and formed for specific purposes or issues, often dissolving once their goal is achieved. Special committees also do not have permanence and are established to focus on particular investigations or tasks. Joint committees, while consisting of members from both the House and the Senate, can be temporary or permanent but are not used for the standard legislative processing that stands committees handle. Therefore, the permanence and specialized focus of standing committees make them central to the workings of Congress.