CONGRESS: The Legislative Branch CHAPTER 7

CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURE Each chamber has a majority party and a minority party The majority party chooses committee and subcommittee chairs and controls the policy agenda

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 MAJORITY WHIP: assistant to MajL, agenda setter, group communicator, issue planner 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

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 maj. Party to lead procedures, set agenda (leads Senate) SENATE WHIP (majority): same as House MINORITY LEADER: leads the interests of minority party SENATE WHIP (minority): same as House

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS A congressional caucus is a group of members of Congress who join together for a common purpose, to reach a common legislative goal. They can have significant influence depending upon their success. A few examples include the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus which works to promote ideas for the advancement of the Hispanic society as well as the Congressional Internet Caucus which promotes advancement in the internet industry.A group of members of the US Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES Each considers bills and issues and recommends measures for consideration by the House 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

COMMITTEES STANDING COMMITTEE : – Permanent, work on annual items – Responsible for issues from agriculture, armed services, energy, homeland security, ways and means – JOINT COMMITTEE: – Members of both chambers

COMMITTEES SELECT/SPECIAL 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

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: – 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

COMMITTEE PRACTICES (111 th ) Majority party has majority of seats on the committees and names the chair Assignments: – House members: 2 standing APPROPRIATIONS – DEM – 37 – REP - 23 – Senate members: 3 standing FINANCE – DEM – 13 – REP - 10

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

POTUS & COTUS