CH. 7 - CONGRESS Student notes 3

CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURE Each chamber has a majority party and a minority party Based on the number of seats won in the previous election – there’s power in numbers – more seats your party has more CONTROL

Congressional Leadership The House Led by Speaker of the House- elected by House members. Presides over the House Controls what bills go to which committees Major role in committee assignments and legislation. Liaison to the president Majority/Minority Leaders/Whips Majority leader, minority leader, and whips The Senate Officially led by Vice President. Really lead by Majority Leader- chosen by party members. Minority leader and whips

HOUSE LEADERSHIP SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: (required by Constitution) elected by majority vote MAJORITY LEADER: chosen by majority party to represent its goals and policies Elected by a caucus to foster cohesion among party members MAJORITY WHIP: assistant to MajL, agenda setter, group communicator, issue planner “assistant” to Leader; make sure they vote “in line” MINORITY LEADER: leader of opposition party MINORITY WHIP: assistant to MinL, liaison to minority party members

SPOTLIGHT: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Leader of the ENTIRE HOR, but a partisan position Appointed by the ENTIRE HOR ONLY Constitutional leadership position in the HOR Serves as an active representative Proceed over meetings of the House, appoint members of joint and conference committees, schedule legislation for floor action, refer bills to appropriate committee

SENATE LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: constitutionally the VP. Monitor debates, mostly breaks tie PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: constitutionally serves if VP unavailable (ceremonial) MAJORITY LEADER: elected by party caucus to lead procedures, set agenda (leads Senate) Actual leader in Senate; recognized first in debate; schedule debate on floor; allocate committee assignments; mobilize party support for bills SENATE WHIP (majority): same as House MINORITY LEADER: leads the interests of minority party SENATE WHIP (minority): same as House

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUSES A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. All members are members of one or more Most important: party caucuses in each chamber Bring together members who have similar political views Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Potato Caucus, Rust Belt Caucus Basically Congress is filled with caucuses

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES Congress divides its tasks among approximately 250 committees and subcommittees. Each considers bills and issues and recommends measures for consideration by the House A way to provide for specialization or a division of the legislative labor Have oversight responsibilities to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions The total number of committee slots allotted to each party is approximately the same as the ratio between majority party and minority party members in the full chamber. CONTROL THE CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA AND GUIDE LEGISLATION FROM ITS INTRODUCTION TO ITS SEND-OFF "little legislatures" determine whether a bill will reach the floor and be called for a vote

IMPORTANT HOUSE COMMITTEES Members seek prestigious committee appointments as well as those that relate to constituents Members in both chambers are appointed by the Steering Committee Seniority system informal but not absolute IMPORTANT HOUSE COMMITTEES Ways and Means chief tax-writing committee “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” Appropriations Regulated how federal money is spent Rules determines rules that set the time limit on debate and determines whether and how a bill may be amended Open rule – any member can offer amendment Closed rule - no amendments may be offered other than amendments recommended by the committee reporting the bill

Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking.

COMMITTEES STANDING COMMITTEE : Permanent, work on annual items Responsible for issues from agriculture, armed services, energy, homeland security, ways and means Considered more prestigious than others b/c of importance of work JOINT COMMITTEE: Members of both chambers

COMMITTEES SELECT/SPECIAL COMMITTEE: CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: Temporary to address emerging issues (unless it’s a permanent select) Set up to investigate or research issues beyond authority of standing committee CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: Differences emerge from House and Senate debates Includes major sponsors from both chambers Compromises on the version differences Creates united bill

Permanent Committees of Congress House Standing Committee Senate Standing Committee Agriculture Appropriations Armed services Budget Education Judiciary International Relations Rules Science Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Environment Foreign Relations Indian Affairs Judiciary Small Business Veterans’ Affairs

STANDING: Appropriations Committees recommend legislation to provide budget authority for federal agencies and programs Budget Committees establish aggregate levels for total spending and revenue that serve as guidelines for the work of the authorizing and appropriating panels JOINT Joint Committee on Printing oversees the functions of the Government Printing Office Joint Committee on the Library: devoted to the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress, the library of the federal legislature

SPECIAL/SELECT: CONFERENCE: Indian affairs, ethics, intelligence, aging Aging: studies issues related to older Americans, particularly Medicare and SS CONFERENCE: Process enabling most bills to become law Negotiate a compromise bill that both houses can accept Made up mostly of chairs from both houses committees

Majority party has majority of seats on the committees

WHY DOESN’T ANYTHING GET DONE? Consent of a bill takes too many people: Majorities on the relevant committees and subcommittees of EACH chamber (and chairs) Appropriations committee of EACH chamber (and chairs) House Rules Committee Chamber majorities Majority party leaders President

PARTISAN V. BIPARTISAN

The Congressional Process Presidents and Congress: Partners and Antagonists Presidents have many resources to influence Congress, including electoral support. In order to “win” in Congress, the president must win several battles in each house. Presidents have the power of veto to ultimately influence legislation.