Warm-ups (04/15 – Unit VI) List and explain the 3 reasons why the United States has a Bicameral Congress.

Ch.12 Congress in Action

12.1 – Congress Organizes The Presiding Officers Speaker of the House: is both elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its majority party Presides over every session of the House, or occasionally appoints a member as the temporary presiding officer Follows the Vice President in the line of succession to the presidency

The Presiding Officers of Congress The President of the Senate = Vice President Constitution assigned the job – not chosen by a party Powers: recognize members, put questions to a vote, etc. Can NOT take the floor to speak or debate and may vote only to break a tie

The Presiding Officers of Congress President Pro Tempore serves in the Vice President’s absence Is elected by the Senate itself and is always a leading member of the majority party Follows the Speaker of the House in the line of presidential succession

Party Officers The Floor Leaders Majority/Minority Floor Leaders The Majority Floor leader’s post is the more powerful in each house because they hold more seats (votes) than the other party Majority/Minority Whips: assistant floor leaders

Party Officers Committee Chairmen: those members that head the standing committees in each chamber Seniority Rule Unwritten custom Head of each committee is almost always the longest-serving majority party member of that committee

12.2 – Committees in Congress The Role of Committees Committee Assignments House: 19, 9 – 75 members in each Senate: 17, 12 – 28 members in each Representatives are usually assigned to one or two; Senators three or four Bills receive their most thorough consideration while in committee

Role of Committees The House Rules Committee: “Traffic Cop” Every bill must be cleared by the Rules Committee Select Committees: most are formed to investigate a current matter (Ex. Study of the Elderly, Covert operations in Iran, Spruce Budworm problem, etc.) Joint & Conference Committees: One composed of members of both houses

TEST THIS WEEK- NEXT TIME I C U Warm-Up (04/26) List the 4 options of the president when he receives a bill – Look in Ch.12 Notes ____________________ TEST THIS WEEK- NEXT TIME I C U

12.3 – How a Bill Becomes a Law: The House 1st Step: Introduced, given a name and number (Ex. H.R. 3410 or S. 210) Types of Bills & Resolutions Joint Resolutions: a proposal for action; has the same force as a law; usually temporary Concurrent Resolutions: Statement on a position; does not have the force of law; no Presidential approval

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The House Resolution: Opinion on a matter; does not have the force of law; no Presidential approval Bill: proposed law; applies to the entire nation Bill in Committee Most bills introduced Congress are pigeonholed – die in committee

12.4 – The Bill in the Senate Introducing the Bill Rules for Debate Bill are introduced by Senators; Private citizens can create a bill (not introduce) Rules for Debate The Filibuster An attempt to “talk a bill to death;” stalling tactic to delay or prevent action on a measure Cloture Rule: used to stop a filibuster (needs 3/5 vote to end it)

Strom Thurmond Oldest member of the Senate @ age 100 Holds the record for longest filibuster 24 hours, 18 minutes (Civil Rights Act of 1957) Longest time spent on a filibuster – 57 days (Civil Rights Act of 1964)

The President’s Powers The President may sign the bill, and it then becomes law (LAW) The President may veto the bill. He will not sign and will attach a veto message to the bill. (NOT LAW, YET – Congress may get a combined 2/3 agreement – BECOMES LAW) The President may allow the bill to become law without signing it – by not acting on it within 10 days, not counting Sundays, of receiving it. (LAW) Pocket Veto: If Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the measure dies (NOT LAW)