A-Listers Committees How a Bill Becomes a Law

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Speaker’s Role:  Preside over House sessions  Keep order in House sessions (follow the rules)  Follows the Vice President in line for the Presidency Who is the Speaker?  Elected by the majority party in House  MOST powerful position in Congress  November 2014: John Boehner (R-OH)

MAJORITY/MINORITY FLOOR LEADER Majority/Minority Floor Leader’s Role:  Not an official position, but powerful  Lead spokesperson for their party  Manage the party’s business in the House Who is the Majority Floor Leader?  Elected by the majority party in House  November 2014: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Who is the Minority Floor Leader?  Elected by the minority party in House  November 2014: Nancy Pelosi (D-MD)

MAJORITY/MINORITY WHIPS Majority/Minority Whip’s Role:  Assistant Floor Leaders  Provide communication between the parties’ leadership and members Who is the Majority Whip?  Elected by the majority party in House  November 2014: Steve Scalise (R-LA) Who is the Minority Whip?  Elected by the minority party in House  November 2014: Steny Hoyer (D-NY)

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE President of the Senate’s Role:  Presides over Senate sessions  Maintains the Senate rules  Only votes in a tiebreak Who is the President of the Senate?  Vice President of the US  Not always a member of the majority party  November 2012: Joe Biden (D-PA)

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE President Pro Temp’s Role:  Serves as the President of the Senate when the Vice President is absent Who is the President Pro Temp?  Elected by the majority party of the Senate  Usually the leading member of majority party  November 2014: Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

MAJORITY/MINORITY FLOOR LEADER Majority/Minority Floor Leader’s Role:  Not an official position, but powerful  Lead spokesperson for their party  Manage the party’s business in the House Who is the Majority Floor Leader?  Elected by the majority party in House  November 2014: Harry Reid (D-NV) Who is the Minority Floor Leader?  Elected by the minority party in House  November 2014: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

MAJORITY/MINORITY WHIPS Majority/Minority Whip’s Role:  Assistant Floor Leaders  Provide communication between the parties’ leadership and members Who is the Majority Whip?  Elected by the majority party in House  November 2014: Richard Durbin (D-IL) Who is the Minority Whip?  Elected by the minority party in House  November 2014: John Cornyn (R-TX)

 Committees are where Congress does most of its work  Each committee has a specific focus (ex. Armed Services, Judiciary, Foreign/International Relations)  Members of the House and Senate are assigned to committees  Include both Democrats and Republicans

DEFINITION:  A permanent committee that meets regularly  Both House and Senate have Standing Committees House:  ~21 Standing Committees Senate:  ~17 Standing Committees

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Committee Chairmen’s Role:  Lead the Standing Committees  Decides when the committee meets  Decides what the committee works on  Spokesperson to the whole House Who are Committee Chairmen?  Chosen by the major party  Seniority Rule: Committee Chairmen are usually the person who has been in Congress the longest

ROLE:  Decides what bills are debated in the House  Decides how long bills will be debated  Decides how long each person can speak about bills INFLUENCE:  The House Rules Committee can speed, delay or even prevent the House from discussing a bill.  It’s VERY IMPORTANT.

DEFINITION:  Temporary committee formed of House and Senate members  Works out difference between two versions of the same bill

What Happened in the 110 th ( ) Congress?  # of bills introduced: (3724 in Senate, 7335 in House)  # of bills that became law: 442 (134 introduced in Senate, 308 introduced in House)  % of bills that became law: 4%  Most bills died in committee!!!

 It’s a really LONG process.  A LOT of people have to agree with each other.  BOTH the House and Senate have to pass EXACTLY the same bill.

 5o3El0 5o3El0  As you’re watching, try to write down as many steps that bills go through to become a law.

Use page 345 in your textbook.  List out the steps necessary for a bill to become a law.  Add terms from the notes: Standing Committee, House Rules Committee, etc.  Write down questions you have about the process.

Filibuster Cloture Rule