The following is from Wayne Swanson's Lawmaking in Connecticut:

The scope and complexity of the subject matter which confront a legislature today make it impossible for every legislator to study and evaluate independently all legislation that is proposed.

Specialization is the only way for a legislature to keep pace with the demands made upon it. The most efficient way to meet the requirements of specialization is to divide the legislature into a number of standing committees according to specific subject matter.

It is only by parceling out the legislative work load that the Assembly can begin to do the job that it has been elected to do.

In 1981, for example, 3,837 bills were introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly. However, only 1,027 favorable committee reports, about 26% of the number of bills proposed, cleared the committees' scrutiny.

By filtering out the less worthy measures and identifying important proposals, the committees save time and help to structure the legislative agenda.

Swanson, Wayne R. Lawmaking in Connecticut: The General Assembly. New London: Connecticut College, 1984. 42-43.