How Congress Works Goal 2

Congressional Rules -Developed to help Congress operate -House has more rules than Senate why??? -Parliamentary Procedures both Houses of Congress use a formal system of debate which keeps the debate orderly

Terms & Sessions Each term of Congress has two regular session. Sessions – meetings of congress The first session of congress usually begins in January of the next year Sessions last as long as Congress wishes Sessions usually last from January until August or September.

Terms & Sessions Both houses of congress agree on the date to adjourn or end the session. Exceptions- when serious problems arise after Congress has adjourned its regular session the President can call for a Special session. President can call for both houses or one.

Terms and Sessions Joint Session – called if the president wants to address both houses of Congress. - This takes place when the Senate and House of Rep. meet together.

Organizations of Congress Each party after the opening day of each term hold private meetings called party Caucuses where each party of each house meets and chose there own leaders. Caucus- a meeting of party leaders to determine party policy or chose their leaders.

Congressional Leadership -Majority Leader -each House chooses a leader of the majority party to be floor leader -Minority Leader -each House picks a minority party member to its floor leader -Party Whip -each party in each House has a Party Whip to keep track of voting for important issues Floor Leader- guides the party’s proposed laws through Congress

House Leaders -Speaker of the House -basically runs the House of Representatives -sets up the calendar and schedules bills for debate Senate Leaders -Vice President -official leader but only votes in a tie and is rarely present -President Pro-Tempore -mostly symbolic position given to the longest serving Senator from the majority party V.P. Joe Biden

House Leaders -Speaker of the House -basically runs the House of Representatives -sets up the calendar and schedules bills for debate Senate Leaders -Vice President -official leader but only votes in a tie and is rarely present -President Pro-Tempore -mostly symbolic position given to the longest serving Senator from the majority party (Presides of the Senate in the absence of the V.P. Speaker : John Boehner t

Staff Support -personal staff of each member of Congress -Committee staff who function as experts in the committees area -Library of Congress -General Accounting Office investigates and reports on gov’t spending -Government Budget Office -predicts the costs of gov’t programs Library of Congress

Committee Government -developed committees to divide the work load of Congress -standing committees- Permanent committees of Congress who study, revise, and pass legislation -select committees-committees which study more temporary problems in society -joint committees-committees which involve members of both Houses of Congress meeting together Conference - Committees- are temporary Committees made up of Senators and Representatives who try to reach agreement on different types of bills.

Committee Examples Select Committee - Investigate government scandals * Are dispersed after their work is done. Standing Committee - House of Rep. – Ways & Means Committee- handles all matters concerning taxes. Senate – Finance Committee – deals with bills related to taxes

Committee Examples Sub-committee - Senate- Foreign Relations Committee- Subcommittees on – Africa, East Asian, Pacific and European Affairs. Conference –committee - considers only one bill at a time.

Committee Membership -Based on seniority -Term that refers to how long a member has been in Congress and is important in assigning committee memberships -Party leaders - make committee assignments -majority party -of each house appoints the chairperson of each committee