Leadership House Senate Speaker Majority/Minority Leader Majority/Minority Whip Senate Vice President President Pro-Tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader Party Whips

How a bill becomes a law

Bill introduction Less than 10% actually pass Ideas for most bills originate in the executive branch Introduced in either house, except tax bills (House only) Diffusion of power is evident Proponents need many victories, opponents need only one Two-step legislative process: 1) Authorization & 2)Appropriation Passage requires only a simple majority

Committee action Importance of “correct” committee getting a bill Committee actions Pass. Bill is “reported out” to full house for consideration Kill Amend— “markup session”. Earmarks added by individual members Pigeonhole—postponed indefinitely. Most frequent fate of bill Discharge petition Importance of Rules Committee “Traffic cop” function: sets legislative calendar Established rules on amendments Establishes rules on floor debate

Floor action Senate allows filibusters Even threat of filibuster is effective 3/5 vote for cloture Senate allows nongermane amendments. “Christmas tree” bills. Senate allows one member to place a hold on a bill or nomination

Conference committee action Comprised of members from both houses Temporary committee reconciles different House-Senate versions of bill, then sends it back to each house for a vote

Presidential action Sign the bill in full Veto the bill in full can be overridden by 2/3 vote in both houses Ignore the bill After 10 days, the bill automatically becomes a law If, however, in that 10 day period, Congress adjourns, the bill is pocket-vetoed Line-item veto given to President in the 90’s Ruled unconstitutional in Clinton v. NY

The committee system

Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work” --Woodrow Wilson

introduction Real work is done in committees and subcommittees, not on the floor Before a bill reaches the floor it must first pass through committee Committee functions: Analyze legislation Conduct investigations Conduct oversight

Selection of committee members Get on the right committee! Assigned by either the Committee on Committees or the Steering and Policy Com. Majority in the house= majority on the committees Committee chair is majority party, ranking member is minority party

Selection of committee chairs Power of chairmen: set committee agenda, hire staff, membership on subcommittees Chairmen are selected by secret ballot in party caucuses or conferences Seniority system Advantages Disadvantages Decentralization of the 1970’s

A look inside a committee hearing Waxman threatens to kick out Issa Oversight hearing on EPA

Types of committees

standing committees Permanent committees of Congress In the House: In the Senate: Rules Finance Ways and Means Appropriations Foreign Relations Judiciary

Conference committees Temporary committees compromised of members from both houses Compromise language on a bill

Other types Select committees Joint committees Crash Course clip

Student cam On a scale of 1-10 (1 being you have done close to nothing, 10 being you are in the final stages) where would you say your group is on the project? On a scale of 1-10 what is the likelihood you will be able to turn in a product you are proud of by January 20th? What has been your biggest obstacle? (Interviews/time/equipment/group/etc) What would be most helpful at this stage?

Influences on members of congress From what we have studied thus far, list different ways that members of congress are influenced.

Influences on members of congress Constituent convictions—DELEGATE role and representational voting Campaign contributors The media Members’ convictions—TRUSTEE role and attitudinal voting Iron triangles (subgovernments) Political party Their peers—reciprocity (exchange of favors) and logrolling (exchange of votes) Congressional staff members Interest groups / lobbies / PACs Congressional caucuses The President

Case against congress Congress is inefficient Congress is unrepresentative Congress is unethical Congress is irresponsible Congress delegates excessive power to the executive branch