Organization of Congress

Section 1Chapter 6

Focus Questions What are the terms and sessions of Congress? How is congressional leadership organized? What are the rules of conduct in Congress?

Congress is governed by rules to carry out responsibilities

Some of these rules are in the Constitution and others are made by Congress themselves

Terms and Sessions Congressional elections take place every even numbered year in

November Each new term begins on January 3 following the election year and

lasts for two years Each Congress is numbered Each term is divided into two 1-year sessions Congress usually stays in session the entire year A quorum (a majority of members) must be present to conduct

business If Congress is in a recess and a major problem arises the President

can call them into special session

Term Limits Today there are no term limits for members of congress Those who want term limits argue that Washington is run

career politicians that dominate the lawmaking process Those who support the current system point to the fact that

voters generally are satisfied with their own representatives and senators

Therefore incumbents, officeholders, have the best chance of being re-elected

Voters often time identify the incumbent as helping their state or community and the challengers as untried and inexperienced

Term LimitsThe Permanent

Congress There is only about an 8%

turnover in Congress from election to election

Many people are worried that with so many incumbents winning that the Congress is becoming a “Permanent Congress”

In 1992, there was a 43% turnover, numbers have gone back and forth since

Term LimitsSupport for Term

Limits There has been a

grassroots campaign to institute term limits that started at the state level

In 1995, the Supreme Court determined that the only way to establish term limits would have to come from a Constitutional amendment

Congressional Leaders Congressional leadership is organized strictly by party The Majority Party is the party that has the most

seats The Minority Party is the party with fewer seats Presiding officers and committee chairs always come

from the majority party The House is controlled by stricter rules and therefore

the majority party has more power More members requires a need for more rules

Congressional LeadersHouse Leaders

The Speaker is the most influential position in the House of Representatives

The Constitution mentions the Speaker but does not give its powers

The Speaker controls debates and has a powerful hand in controlling the flow of legislation

The Speaker is also in charge of assigning representatives to committees

Congressional LeadersHouse Leaders

Members also choose their own party floor leaders

The minority leader and majority leader are their party’s chief spokesperson in Congress

Congressional LeadersHouse Leaders

Each party also chooses its own party whips and their job is to monitor and influence how members will vote

They work as an intelligence network for their party– gathering opinions which allows the leadership to be efficient in gathering support

Congressional LeadersSenate Leaders

The presiding officer in Senate is the vice president

The only substantial role the vice president fills is to cast a vote incase of a tie

Congressional LeadersSenate Leaders

When the vice president is absent the president pro tempore is the head of Senate

This person is in the majority party and has been in Senate the longest

Congressional LeadersSenate Leaders

The most powerful Senate leader is the majority party leader

That person is the main strategist and serves as the party’s chief spokesperson

Rules of Conduct The Constitution gives Congress the power to judge its

members’ qualification The Congress can refuse to seat a member until they address

the concerns of Congress Either house may vote to discipline on of its members because

of poor conduct Censure is a discipline that is stronger then reprimand In 1997, Newt Gingrich became the first formal punishment for

a Speaker (he was fined 300,000) Serious or criminal conduct may result in Expulsion (two-

thirds vote for removal)

Focus Questions What are the terms and sessions of Congress? How is congressional leadership organized? What are the rules of conduct in Congress?