Organization and Process Congress Organization and Process

Agenda, Objective, Homework Take Reading Quiz Blitz PPT HOMEWORK: Finish the rest of the Chapter and your flashcards for the Vocab Quiz (This is a huge point value) in two classes. You will have reading assigned next class too so stay on top of this. If you do not study, you will fail. If I make a Kahoot will you use it? SWBAT: Identify differences in qualifications for Senator and House members. Explain how positions in Congress are selected and what their powers are. Explain the process by which a bill becomes law.

Congressmen Qualifications…. (1/3 gets reelect every 2 years) (Whole House) 7 year citizen 9 year citizen Represent Smaller Districts-Easier to Pork Barrel/designed to be more responsive to the people Represent the Whole state-more prestige

President Pro Tempore Who is it? How is he chosen? Powers and Duties? Orrin Hatch How is he chosen? Selected from the majority party. Most commonly it is the member with the most seniority. Powers and Duties? Preside over the Senate when VP is absent. Third in line for Presidency.

President of the Senate Who is it? Joseph Biden How is he chosen? Runs with the President in elections. Powers and Duties? Preside over the Senate. Second in line for Presidency.

Majority Leader (Senate) Who is it? Mitch McConnell- Jon Stewart on Mitch How is he chosen? Chosen by the majority party in a secret ballot from the party caucus every two years. Powers and Duties? Schedules the business of the Senate. First right to be recognized on the Floor.

Minority Leader (Senate) Who is it? Chuck Schumer How is he chosen? Chosen by the minority party in a secret ballot from the party caucus every two years. Powers and Duties? Works with the majority leader to schedule the business of the Senate. Keep colleagues informed of party goals. What would likely happen if Democrats seized control of the Senate next election? (majority) Harry Reid is the Senator from Nevada. Prior to this last Midterm election, he was the majority leader.

Majority and Minority Whip What do they do? Keep party members in Congress in line with Party’s goals

Speaker of the House Who is it? How is he chosen? Powers and Duties? Paul Ryan How is he chosen? Elected by the majority party. Powers and Duties? Decides who is recognized to speak on the House floor. Determines which committee bills go to (big deal since certain committees dodge the Rules Committee) He nominates the majority-party leaders in the Rules Committee. VIDEO CLIP.

Majority Leader (House) Who is it? Kevin McCarthy How is he chosen? Elected by the majority party.

Minority Leader (House) Who is it? Nancy Pelosi How is she chosen? Elected by the majority party.

Committees and Caucus Caucuses are informal groups formed by members of Congress who share a common purpose or set of goals (Congressional Black Caucus, Women's Caucus, Democratic or Republican Caucus). Standing committee is a permanent committee that deals with specific policy matters (agriculture, energy and natural resources, veterans’ affairs). Select committee is a temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose. Most are formed to investigate a particular issue, such as the Senate Watergate Committee. Joint committee is made up of members of both houses of Congress. It may be a select committee (Iran-Contra Committee) or perform routine duties (Joint Committee on the Library of Congress). Conference committee is a temporary committee of members from both houses of Congress, created to resolve the differences in House and Senate versions of a bill. It is a compromise committee. Know the…. Rules Committee House Ways and Means Senate Finance Committee Appropriations Committee *You hit the lottery if you make it on these committees! Every Congressmen’s goal.

How a Bill Becomes a Law School House Rock

Introduction of a bill The bill can come from a variety of sources: Individual citizens, Special interest groups Only a member of Congress can introduce the bill A bill can start in either House (Note: All Revenue Bills must start in the house). Corporations, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

The Bill is assigned to Committee (Who decides? Each House has standing committees that consider their bills (90% die here). They “mark-up” (edit) the bill so it will pass on the floor. They can also “pigeonhole” or kill the bill in committee. In the House the bill must also pass through the House Rules Committee. (What do they decide?) Each committee has a chair (from the Majority) and a ranking member (from the minority).

The bill is Reported to the Floor If the bill is passed by the committee, it is sent to the whole House for debate and vote. The committee has “reported the bill favorably to the floor.” The Speaker determines which bills are discussed and for how long. Committee chairs and ranking members give out time to debate to other members.

The Bill is Debated and voted on in the HOUSE Bills can be considered by the whole House at once: called “Committee of the Whole” Votes are done electronically in the House. This is a role call vote (What are the other kinds?). A tote board on the wall shows the tally. Red = oppose. Green = Agree Yellow = Abstain Votes can be taken by voice “yeas and nays” or a “teller vote” where members file past the sergeant at arms.

The Bill Goes to the SENATE The bill is sent to the US Senate. A Senate version is written with the letter S. and a number. House bills have HR. As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. Committees hold hearings and make changes to the bill. The committee can ‘report” the bill to the Senate floor.

The Bill is Debated and Voted on in the SENATE The Senate Majority Leader determines which bills are scheduled. Debate in the Senate is unlimited. Filibusters can be used by the minority to block bills. 3/5 (60) of the Senate must agree to end debate As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. 3/5 (60) of the Senate must agree to end debate (this is called “cloture”) The Senate Rules committee is much weaker than the House’s.

Both Houses Must Pass the Bill A simple majority in both houses is needed to pass the bill (51%). In the House: 218 needed to control the House. In the Senate: 51 senators needed to pass the bill (and control the Senate).

Differences Between Houses Must be Reconciled Each house passes its own bill. Any differences must be ironed out and made into one bill. The bill is considered by a conference committee, made up of both House and Senate members. They negotiate and compromise and send the combined bill back to both houses. A vote on the “conference report” must be taken and passed by both Houses.

The Bill is Sent to the President The president can sign the bill if he wants it to become law. He can include “signing statements” that say how the law should be enforced or if parts will not be enforced. The president can veto or reject the bill. He must include his reasons and recommendations for correction. The president can choose not to act on the bill. If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law after 10 days (p.s. Sundays do NOT count). If Congress is not in session, the bill dies after 10 days. This is called a “pocket veto.” (Bill CANNOT go back to Congress, must start all over again next session) Obama pocket vetoes a popular bill in Congress which would allow banks to more easily foreclose on homes (2010). http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43275.html -Foreclosure is a legal process in which a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments to the lender by forcing the sale of the asset used as the collateral for the loan. Formally, a mortgage lender (mortgagee), or other lienholder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower (mortgagor)'s equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law (after following a specific statutory procedure). -Obama has used the Pocket Veto twice as president. The other time blocking a defense bill. -The first president to use the pocket veto was James Madison in 1812.

The bill becomes a law If the president vetoes the bill, both Houses can reconsider the bill. Two-thirds (67%) of both Houses are needed to override the President’s veto. In the House: 369 needed for override. Senate: 67. If president signs the bill, it is a federal law that each state must follow.

…Or if you wanna skip all that School House Rock(Part 2)