Chapter 12 Congress in Action
Chapter 12 Section 1 Congress Organizes
I. Describe how and when Congress convenes New Congressional terms begin on January 3rd of every odd-numbered years House of Representative All 435 seats are up for election every two years Senate 1/3 of 100 seats are up for election every two years Continuous body
II. Compare roles of the presiding officers in the House and Senate Speaker of the House President of the Senate President Pro Tempore
III. Identify the duties of the party officers in Congress Party caucus Closed meeting among parties Floor leaders Controls the order of business Whips Floor leaders assistant
IV. Describe how committee chairmen are chosen Seniority Rule Does it???? Ignore ability Discourage younger members
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Chapter 12 Section 2 Committees in Congress
I. Explain how standing committees function Permanent committees There are House, Senate, and Joint Include: Education Budget Rules
II. Describe the duties of the House Rules Committee Traffic Cop Most bills die in committee Schedules what bills will be taken to the full House
III. Compare Joint and Conference Committees Joint Committee Composed of member of both the House and the Senate. Permanent Conference Committee Iron out differences in bills Temporary
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How a Bill becomes a Law: Chapter 12 Section 3 How a Bill becomes a Law: The House
I. Types of Bills and Resolutions Bill - proposed law Joint Resolution – has force of law Concurrent Resolution – no force of law Resolution – no force of law
II. The Bill in Committee First reading Given number and title Appropriate standing committee Subcommittees
Report the bill favorably Refuse to report the bill – III. Committee Actions Report the bill favorably Refuse to report the bill – Pigeonhole Report the bill in amended form Report the bill unfavorable Report a committee bill
Voice votes – most common Standing vote Teller vote Roll-call vote IV. Voting Methods Voice votes – most common Standing vote Teller vote Roll-call vote Computerized – Yea, Nay, Present
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How a Bill becomes a Law: Chapter 12 Section 4 How a Bill becomes a Law: The Senate
I. Major difference between bill in the House and the Senate The major difference between House and Senate procedures involve debate. Floor debate is limited in the House Floor debate is almost unrestricted in the Senate
II. Rules for Debate The Filibuster The Cloture Rule “Talk a bill to death” Sen. Huey Long Sen. Strom Thurmond The Cloture Rule Limits debate
III. The President Acts The Constitution requires all bills passed by both the House and the Senate be sent to the President to either: Sign into law Veto Become law after 10 days Pocket veto
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