Database

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update committees c1 set num_subcommittees = 
   case
   when parent_committee is not null then -1
   else (select count(*) from committees c2 where c2.parent_committee = c1.id)
   end;

CREATE TABLE `committees` (
  `id` char(5) NOT NULL,
  `parent_committee` char(5) DEFAULT NULL,
  `name` char(200) DEFAULT NULL,
  `chairman` char(40) DEFAULT NULL,
  `ranking_member` char(40) DEFAULT NULL,
  `num_subcommittees` int(11) DEFAULT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;