Legislative Terms

Speaker of the House The presiding officer of the House of Representatives Chosen by and from the majority party in the house To preside and keep order Follows the Vice-President in order of succession John Boehner

President of the Senate Vice-President’s only job Presiding officer of the Senate Cannot debate or take the floor to speak May only vote to break a tie

President Pro Tempore Serves in the Vice-President’s absence Elected by the Senate Leading member of the majority party Usually longest serving member Follows Speaker in line of succession Patrick Leahy

Party Caucus Closed meeting of each party of each house Meets before Congress convenes Deal with party organizations Select nominations for party leaders

Floor Leaders Picked by their party colleagues Legislative strategists Try to steer floor action to their party’s favor Chief spokesman for his party in his chamber Majority leader is more powerful Senate Leadership Majority Leader of the United States Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid Minority Leader of the United States Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell

Whips Assistant to floor leaders Chosen by party caucus Serves as a liaison – a two way link between the party’s leadership and its rank and file Work to count up votes on particular matters Makes sure members are present for important votes Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives Steve Scalise Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives Steny Hoyer House of Representatives Leadership

Committee Chairmen The most important posts are held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress Head of particular committees within the Congress

Standing Committees Permanent committees Both Senate and House have Standing Committees Agriculture Budget Education and the Workforce Financial Services

House Rules Committee “Traffic Cop” Bills go through this committee before it goes to the floor 13 members

Select Committees Special Committees For a specific reason and limited time

Joint Committee Members of both houses Economic The Library Printing Taxation

Conference Committees Created to iron out differences on a bill Their job is produce a compromised bill that both houses will accept