Congress in Action Chap. 11

Who are the members of congress! Near 50% are lawyers They mostly deal with laws and making of laws White, Middle-class, older, Christians, males averaging about 50 years old Male (85%), Women (15%), White (86%), AA (8%), HA (5%), APA (1%)

Who keeps coming back to congress? “All members of congress have one primary interest, to be reelected” Incumbents (those already elected) win 90 % of their reelections! Why? 1. Easier to raise funds 2. Gerrymandering 3. Better known to voters 4. Have helped voters 5. Most believe Incumbents best represent their view

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) Presiding Officer of the House Leader of the Majority Party in the House

Aid the fortunes of the party and its legislative goals Functions of Speaker Preside in fair manner Keep order Call for votes Aid the fortunes of the party and its legislative goals Names members to conference committees Votes to force a tie or break a tie

House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Deputy to Speaker Sets agenda Schedules bills Chief spokesperson during debate

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Sets party’s agenda in House Recommends members for conf. committee Chief spokesperson for party

Party Whips for House/Senate R = Steve Scalise D= Steny Hoyer Chief assistant to floor leaders Make sure members of their party are present to vote Keep track of how members intend to vote on important bills

President of Senate V.P. Joe Biden (D) Presides over Senate (like Speaker) Votes only to break a tie Does not take part in debates

President Pro Tempore Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Presides in VP’s absence Longest serving member of majority party

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Leader of Senate: Appoints members for conf. committee Same duties as in House Set agenda Chief spokesperson Schedule bills

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Sets party agenda in the Senate Recommends members for conf. Committee Chief spokesperson for party

Senate Majority/Minority Whips Same duties as House Whips Majority Whip = John Cornyn (R- TX) Minority Whip = Dick Durbin (D- IL)

Rep. (R) Tom Price Sen. David Perdue (R) Sen. Johnny Isakson Who represents you? Rep. (R) Tom Price Sen. David Perdue (R) Sen. Johnny Isakson

Rep. Tom Price (R-6th District) 6th district = Cherokee Co., parts of Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton county Bio: Michigan & Emory graduate (Orthopedic surgery), married with 1 son, residing in Roswell, served in state legislature Committees: education & labor, financial services He is concerned: w/patient centered health reform, reforming the tax system, repairing the litigation system, transportation solutions for Atlanta

Sen. David perdue (R-GA) Bio: Born in Macon, GA., GT grad (1972 IE, 1975), in consulting business, married with 2 children and reside in Sea Island, GA, elected to Senate in 2014 Committees: Agriculture Committee; Budget Committee; Foreign Relations Committee; Judiciary Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging; also on subcommittees for forestry & state department Issues: fight for term limits, lower spending, growing the economy, create jobs and tackle the debt crisis

Sen. Johnny Isaakson (R-GA) Bio: born in Atlanta (resides in Marietta), UGA grad., own a real estate firm, married with 3 kids Committees: Environment & public works, foreign relations, veterans affair, small business and entrepreneurship, health-education-labor- pension, select comm. on ethics Issues: gun rights, homeland security, immigration reform