Congress in Action Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Section 1 Congress Organizes

Congress Convenes Opening Day in the House January 3rd, every odd numbered year 111th Currently The clerk of the House in the preceding term presides They take roll then chose Speaker to be permanent presiding officer They are then sworn in by the Dean of House (longest standing member) Choose nonmember positions House clerk, sergeant at arms, chief administrative officer, and chaplain Decide on rules that it will adopt Lastly members are appointed to committees by House vote

Congress Convenes Opening Day in the Senate A more continuous body Do not have to reorganize at the beginning of every term Old and new members are sworn in, and missing positions must be filled. Short and easy first day

State of the Union Address House notifies Senate when they are organized Organize joint committee to communicate with President Within a few weeks he makes his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress

Presiding Officers Speaker of the House Most important and powerful Always choose speaker from among its members Duties are to preside and keep order Speaker usually does not vote, but is called upon to break any ties Next in line after VP for the Presidential office

Presiding Officers President of the Senate This office is held by the Vice President Not as powerful because not a member of Senate Cannot speak or take the floor, but may vote to break a tie President pro tempore, serves when VP cannot be there Senator Byrd (WV)

Party Officers The party caucus is a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house. The floor leaders: Majority and minority floor leaders are next important after the Speaker They are legislative strategists, try to steer floor action for their parties’ benefits. They are assisted by party whips Essentially assistant floor leaders

111th U.S. House leadership Republican Leadership The following members were selected by House Republicans to serve in the leadership during the 111th Congress: Position Member Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) Conference Chair Mike Pence (Ind.) Policy Committee Chairman Thad McCotter (Mich.) Conference Vice-chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) Conference Secretary John Carter (Texas) Chairman of NRCC Pete Sessions (Texas) Democratic Leadership The following members were selected by House Democrats to serve in the leadership during the 111th Congress: Position Member Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) Caucus Chair John Larson (Ct.) Caucus Vice-chair Xavier Becerra (Calif.) DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md)

111th U.S. Senate Leadership Democratic Leadership On November 14, 2006, the Democratic caucus met in the Old Senate Chamber to decide on party leaders. Beginning in 2009, members of the 111th Congress (for the most part) kept that leadership. The following members were selected to serve in the leadership: Position / Member Majority Leader Chairman of Democratic Caucus Harry Reid (Nev.) Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) Vice-chair of Democratic Caucus Charles Schumer (N.Y) Chairman of DSCC Robert Menendez (N.J.) Conference secretary Patty Murray (Wash.) Chair of the steering committee Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) Republican Leadership The Senate Republican caucus selected the following members to serve as their leadership: Position / Member Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) Conference Chair Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) Conference Vice-Chair John Thune (S.D.) Policy Committee Chairman John Ensign (Nev.) Chairman of the NRSC John Cornyn (Texas)

Committee Chairman Most work in House is done by committees Committee chairmen become important Seniority Rule: unwritten custom, just says important positions will be held by those in Congress the longest.

Committees in Congress Chapter 12 Section 2 Committees in Congress

Standing Committees They are permanent panels to which all similar bills are sent. 19 in House, 17 in Senate 9-75 members in House, 12-28 in Senate House members in 1 or 2, Senate 3 or 4 Most bills are decided in these committees before they ever reach the floor

STANDING, OR PERMANENT, COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS HOUSE: Agriculture -- Appropriations -- Armed Services Banking, Fiance and Urban Affairs -- Budget District of Columbia -- Education and Labor -- Energy and Commerce Foreign Affairs -- Government Operations -- House Administration Interior and Insular Affairs -- Judiciary -- Merchant Marine and Fisheries Post Office and Civil Service -- Public Works and Transportation Rules -- Science, Space and Technology -- Small Business Standards of Official Conduct -- Veterans' Affairs -- Ways and Means SENATE: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry -- Appropriations -- Armed Services Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs -- Budget Commerce, Science and Transportation -- Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works -- Finance -- Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs -- Judiciary -- Labor and Human Resources Rules and Administration -- Small Business -- Veterans' Affairs

House Rules Committee “traffic cop” Even after bills clear their initial committee they must then clear the Rules Committee The 13 member committee can speed up, delay, or prevent House action on a measure

Select Committees Panels set up for a specific purpose, and for a limited time. Members appointed by Speaker of House or President of the Senate

Joint and Conference Committees Joint Committee: one composed of members of both houses. Conference Committees: a temporary joint body created to iron out the differences in a bill.

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ Chapter 12 Section 3 HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

First Steps A bill is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration. Bills introduced in House by dropping them into a box on the clerk’s desk

Types of Bills and Resolutions Joint Resolution: a proposal for some action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters Concurrent Resolution: a statement of position on an issue, adopted by the house and senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law; does not require the President’s signature Resolution: A measure dealing with some matter in one house; does not have the force of law; does not require the President’s signature

The Bill in Committee Majority of bills die in committee Discharge petition: used to move bills to the floor that have been in committee for 30 days Used in 2002 for Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Scheduling Floor Debate Five calendars in the House Union Calendar; all bills having to do with revenues, appropriations, or government property House Calendar; all other public bills Private calendar; for all private bills Correction Calendar; for bills taken out of order by unanimous consent, usually minor Discharge Calendar; for petitions to discharge bills from committee

The Bill on the Floor Committee of the Whole, only requires 100 members instead of quorum of 218 Debate: time limited to an hour without unanimous consent. Speaker can force members to give up the floor Voting: a bill can be voted on many times with its amendments Final Steps: after second reading it is engrossed, meaning the bill is printed in final form. Approved then after third reading, and sent to President of Senates desk.

Bills in the Senate Chapter 12 Section 4

The Bill in the Senate Introduced by senators Given a number, read twice, then referred to committee Less formal and less strict then the House Only 1 calendar, not 5

Rules for Debate Very limited in the House, almost unrestrained in the Senate May speak as long as they want on whatever they want “two-speech rule” no senator may speak more than twice on a given questions on the same legislative day.

HOMEWORK Chapter 12 Outline Due Next Class TEST NEXT CLASS 30 Multiple Choice Questions Chapters 10-11-12 over Congress