Congress Convenes Opening Day in the House January 3 rd, every
odd numbered year 111 th Currently The clerk of the House in the
preceding term presides They take roll then chose Speaker to be
permanent presiding officer They are then sworn in by the Dean of
House (longest standing member) Choose nonmember positions House
clerk, sergeant at arms, chief administrative officer, and chaplain
Decide on rules that it will adopt Lastly members are appointed to
committees by House vote
Slide 4
Congress Convenes Opening Day in the Senate A more continuous
body Do not have to reorganize at the beginning of every term Old
and new members are sworn in, and missing positions must be filled.
Short and easy first day
Slide 5
State of the Union Address House notifies Senate when they are
organized Organize joint committee to communicate with President
Within a few weeks he makes his State of the Union address to a
joint session of Congress
Slide 6
Presiding Officers Speaker of the House Most important and
powerful Always choose speaker from among its members Duties are to
preside and keep order Speaker usually does not vote, but is called
upon to break any ties Next in line after VP for the Presidential
office
Slide 7
Presiding Officers President of the Senate This office is held
by the Vice President Not as powerful because not a member of
Senate Cannot speak or take the floor, but may vote to break a tie
President pro tempore, serves when VP cannot be there Senator Byrd
(WV)
Slide 8
Party Officers The party caucus is a closed meeting of the
members of each party in each house. The floor leaders: Majority
and minority floor leaders are next important after the Speaker
They are legislative strategists, try to steer floor action for
their parties benefits. They are assisted by party whips
Essentially assistant floor leaders
Slide 9
111 th U.S. House leadership Democratic Leadership The
following members were selected by House Democrats to serve in the
leadership during the 111th Congress: Position Member Speaker of
the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.)
Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) Caucus Chair John Larson (Ct.)
Caucus Vice-chair Xavier Becerra (Calif.) DCCC Chairman Chris Van
Hollen (Md) Republican Leadership The following members were
selected by House Republicans to serve in the leadership during the
111th Congress: Position Member Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) Conference Chair Mike Pence (Ind.)
Policy Committee Chairman Thad McCotter (Mich.) Conference
Vice-chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) Conference Secretary John
Carter (Texas) Chairman of NRCC Pete Sessions (Texas)
Slide 10
111 th U.S. Senate Leadership Democratic Leadership Democratic
On November 14, 2006, the Democratic caucus met in the Old Senate
Chamber to decide on party leaders. Beginning in 2009, members of
the 111th Congress (for the most part) kept that leadership. The
following members were selected to serve in the leadership:
Position / Member Majority Leader Chairman of Democratic Caucus
Harry Reid (Nev.)Harry Reid Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.)Dick
Durbin Vice-chair of Democratic Caucus Charles Schumer (N.Y)Charles
Schumer Chairman of DSCC Robert Menendez (N.J.)Robert Menendez
Conference secretary Patty Murray (Wash.)Patty Murray Chair of the
steering committee Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)Debbie Stabenow
Republican Leadership Republican The Senate Republican caucus
selected the following members to serve as their leadership:
Position / Member Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)Mitch
McConnell Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.)Jon Kyl Conference Chair
Lamar Alexander (Tenn.)Lamar Alexander Conference Vice-Chair John
Thune (S.D.)John Thune Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign
(Nev.)John Ensign Chairman of the NRSC John Cornyn (Texas)John
Cornyn
Slide 11
Committee Chairman Most work in House is done by committees
Committee chairmen become important Seniority Rule: unwritten
custom, just says important positions will be held by those in
Congress the longest.
Slide 12
COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS Chapter 12 Section 2
Slide 13
Standing Committees They are permanent panels to which all
similar bills are sent. 19 in House, 17 in Senate 9-75 members in
House, 12-28 in Senate House members in 1 or 2, Senate 3 or 4 Most
bills are decided in these committees before they ever reach the
floor
Slide 14
STANDING, OR PERMANENT, COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS HOUSE:
Agriculture -- Appropriations -- Armed Services Banking, Fiance and
Urban Affairs -- Budget District of Columbia -- Education and Labor
-- Energy and Commerce Foreign Affairs -- Government Operations --
House Administration Interior and Insular Affairs -- Judiciary --
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Post Office and Civil Service --
Public Works and Transportation Rules -- Science, Space and
Technology -- Small Business Standards of Official Conduct --
Veterans' Affairs -- Ways and Means SENATE: Agriculture, Nutrition
and Forestry -- Appropriations -- Armed Services Banking, Finance
and Urban Affairs -- Budget Commerce, Science and Transportation --
Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works --
Finance -- Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs -- Judiciary --
Labor and Human Resources Rules and Administration -- Small
Business -- Veterans' Affairs
Slide 15
House Rules Committee traffic cop Even after bills clear their
initial committee they must then clear the Rules Committee The 13
member committee can speed up, delay, or prevent House action on a
measure
Slide 16
Select Committees Panels set up for a specific purpose, and for
a limited time. Members appointed by Speaker of House or President
of the Senate
Slide 17
Joint and Conference Committees Joint Committee: one composed
of members of both houses. Conference Committees: a temporary joint
body created to iron out the differences in a bill.
Slide 18
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ Chapter 12 Section
3
Slide 19
First Steps A bill is a proposed law presented to the House or
Senate for consideration. Bills introduced in House by dropping
them into a box on the clerks desk
Slide 20
Types of Bills and Resolutions Joint Resolution: a proposal for
some action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals
with special circumstances or temporary matters Concurrent
Resolution: a statement of position on an issue, adopted by the
house and senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law;
does not require the Presidents signature Resolution: A measure
dealing with some matter in one house; does not have the force of
law; does not require the Presidents signature
Slide 21
The Bill in Committee Majority of bills die in committee
Discharge petition: used to move bills to the floor that have been
in committee for 30 days Used in 2002 for Bipartisan Campaign
Reform Act
Slide 22
Scheduling Floor Debate Five calendars in the House 1.Union
Calendar; all bills having to do with revenues, appropriations, or
government property 2.House Calendar; all other public bills
3.Private calendar; for all private bills 4.Correction Calendar;
for bills taken out of order by unanimous consent, usually minor
5.Discharge Calendar; for petitions to discharge bills from
committee
Slide 23
The Bill on the Floor Committee of the Whole, only requires 100
members instead of quorum of 218 Debate: time limited to an hour
without unanimous consent. Speaker can force members to give up the
floor Voting: a bill can be voted on many times with its amendments
Final Steps: after second reading it is engrossed, meaning the bill
is printed in final form. Approved then after third reading, and
sent to President of Senates desk.
Slide 24
Bills in the Senate Chapter 12 Section 4
Slide 25
The Bill in the Senate Introduced by senators Given a number,
read twice, then referred to committee Less formal and less strict
then the House Only 1 calendar, not 5
Slide 26
Rules for Debate Very limited in the House, almost unrestrained
in the Senate May speak as long as they want on whatever they want
two-speech rule no senator may speak more than twice on a given
questions on the same legislative day.
Slide 27
HOMEWORK Chapter 12 Outline Due Next Class TEST NEXT CLASS 30
Multiple Choice Questions Chapters 10-11-12 over Congress
