What is a defining characteristic of a committee compared to a principal assembly?

A defining characteristic of a committee compared to a principal assembly is its limited scope and function. Committees are typically formed to focus on specific tasks or areas of concern that require detailed attention, such as policy development, event planning, or issue resolution. This narrower focus allows committees to work on particular projects or issues more efficiently and effectively than a larger assembly, which must deal with a broader range of topics and decisions.

The limited scope of a committee means its members can delve deeper into the subject matter, allowing for more comprehensive discussions and analyses, which might be more challenging to achieve in a principal assembly where time and attention are divided among many different issues. While assemblies generally make final decisions and carry out legislative functions, committees serve as subunits that prepare and refine these matters before they reach the full assembly.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately define a committee's characteristics. Committees do not possess greater authority over assemblies; they often derive their power from the assembly that creates them. While increased member participation can occur within committees, it is not inherently a defining feature since the level of participation may vary based on the assembly itself. Similarly, more frequent meetings can occur in either context based on the needs or workload but is not a defining element of committees