How Congress Works Part I

Who’s in Congress?

Demographic Profile of the 111th Congress Age Groups Source: Source: Party Gender Ethnicity

House-Senate Differences House House 435 members; 2 yr terms 435 members; 2 yr terms Low turnover Low turnover Speaker bill referral hard to challenge Speaker bill referral hard to challenge Scheduling/rules controlled by majority party with powerful Rules Committee ( controls time of debate, amends., etc) Scheduling/rules controlled by majority party with powerful Rules Committee ( controls time of debate, amends., etc) Senate 100 members; 6 yr terms Moderate turnover Referral decisions easily challenged Scheduling/rules agreed to by majority & minority leaders

House-Senate Differences House House Debate limited to 1 hour Debate limited to 1 hour Members policy specialists Members policy specialists Emphasizes tax & revenue policy Emphasizes tax & revenue policy More formal & impersonal More formal & impersonal Senate Unlimited debate unless cloture invoked Members policy generalists Emphasizes foreign policy More informal & personal

Party Leadership Bicameral Democratic Leadership 110th Congress Senate Republican Leadership 110th Congress

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Chosen by majority party Chief presiding officer (constitutionally) of the House Decides whom to recognize to speak on the floor Rules on germaneness of motions Decides to which committee bills go Schedules bills for action Appoints members of special and select committees Has some patronage power

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER Chosen by majority party Assists Speaker Plans party’s legislative program Steers important bills through the House Party leader

HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP Party floor leader Keeps close watch on how majority members intend to vote Attempts to influence voting

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER Party leader Performs similar tasks to House Majority Leader Has no power over scheduling work in the House

HOUSE MINORITY WHIP Assists party minority leader Keeps close watch on how minority members intend to vote Attempts to influence voting

President of the Senate Vice-President of the United States Elected in general presidential election Chief presiding officer (constitutionally) of the Senate Cannot participate in floor debate Casts vote only in case of tie

President Pro-Tempore Chosen by majority party; often most senior member Presides over Senate in absence of vice- president

Senate Majority Leader Chosen by majority party Majority. party leader in Senate Steers party’s bills through Senate Plans Senate’s work schedule in consultation with Minority Leader Makes sure majority members attend important sessions

Senate Majority Whip Chosen by majority party Assists Majority Leader Rounds up members for key votes Heads group of deputy whips

Senate Minority Leader Chosen by minority party Minority party leader in Senate Develops criticisms of bills from majority party Consults with Majority Leader re: Senate’s work schedule Tries to keep members working together

Senate Minority Whip Chosen by minority party Assists Minority Leader Rounds up members for key votes Heads group of deputy whips

HOUSE LEADERSHIP Speaker (majority party) Republicans: Majority Leader Majority Whip Republican Conference Republican Policy Committee Republican Congressional Campaign Committee Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

HOUSE LEADERSHIP Democrats: Minority Leader Minority Whip Democratic Caucus Democratic Congressional Committee Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

SENATE LEADERSHIP President of the Senate (Vice President) President Pro Tempore (majority party) Democrats: Majority Leader Majority Whip Chairman of Conference Policy Committee Steering Committee Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) President Pro Tem Robert Byrd (D-WV) Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) President of the Senate Joe Biden (D-DE)

SENATE LEADERSHIP Republicans: Minority Leader Minority Whip Chairman of Conference Policy Committee Committee on Committees Republican Senatorial Committee Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX)

Strength of Party Structure? Measure of party strength: 1.Ability of leaders to control party rules and organization 2.Extent to which party members vote together in the House and Senate Senate: less party-centered and leader oriented

Party Unity Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..Lower today than 100 years ago, but….. Ideology important variable explaining party voting (members vote with their party 80% of the time)Ideology important variable explaining party voting (members vote with their party 80% of the time) Party polarization - vote in which majority of democrats oppose majority of republicansParty polarization - vote in which majority of democrats oppose majority of republicans Polarization trends:Polarization trends: o1976 HR = 36%; S = 37% o1995 HR = 73%; S = 69% o2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%

CAUCUSES Groups (may be bipartisan) meeting to pursue common legislative objectives Rivals to parties in policy formulation Examples: Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Out of Iraq Caucus, Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus, House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children

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

Legislative Committees: Function and Purpose

Legislative Committees: Function & Purpose 1. Consider bills (a.k.a. “mark-up” bills) A bill with a member’s mark-up notes

Legislative Committees: Function & Purpose 2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing re: the Department of Defense Budget (May, 2006)

Legislative Committees: Function & Purpose 3. Conduct investigations New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hurricane Katrina (Feb., 2006

Types of Committees  Standing Committees - permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities Subcommittees – formed to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees  Select or Special Committees - groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration  Joint Committees - includes members of both chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks  Conference Committee - includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills

Standing Committees

House Standing Committees Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education & Workforce Energy & Commerce Financial Services Government Reform House Admin. International Relations Judiciary Resources Rules Science Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Transportation & Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Ways & Means

Senate Standing Committees Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, Transportation Energy & Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans Affairs

Special, Select Committees House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming Senate Select Committee on Ethics House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence Gen. Michael Hayden is sworn in during a full committee hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Joint Committees Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on Taxation hearing

Title: ResolutionArtist: Bob Gorrell Date: 12/28/06Source:

Artist: R.J. Matson, New York Observer & Roll Call Date: 1/18/07 Source: