The Senate and House of Representatives Mr. Lawrence Am. Gov’t

Structure of Congress  Bicameral Legislator  A Two House Legislator  The Great Compromise  Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could not be ignored

Rules of the Houses  Each house issues a book of complex rules to govern Congressional Proceedings.  These rules are Developed by the Rules Committee of each house  These are the most important Committees in each house The Senates Rules: Creates an informal atmosphere Geared towards allowing Senators to freely express their ideas The House of Reps’ Rules: Creates strict and efficient atmosphere Allows for the quick movement of laws through the House of Reps

Importance of Political Parties in Congress  Party Politics play a very important role in Congress  The Parties elect their own leaders and vote along the same lines  Division between the two groups is so strong that they sit separately  Democrats on the Left  Republicans on the Right

Leadership in the Houses  Each House of Congress has specific leadership roles that must be filled at the start of every session of Congress  These Leaders Have Six Duties: 1. Organize and Unify Party Members 2. Scheduling 3. Making sure members are present for key votes 4. Distributing and Collecting Information 5. Keep communication between their house and the President 6. Influence Congressmen on how to vote

House of Reps. Leadership  Speaker of the House: The Head Honcho  Chosen by a Caucus: Closed meeting of Majority Party Members  Member of the Majority Party  Approved by the entire House of Reps after the Caucus  Duties include  Recognizes members to speak  Scheduling  Enforces the Rules  Create Committees  Communicating with the President

House of Reps. Leadership Cont. Floor Leaders  Majority and Minority Party Leaders  The Leaders of their Parties on the House Floor  Duties include:  Supporting the Speaker of the House  Organizing Party Members  Party Whips and Deputy Whips  The Assists to the Party leaders  Duties Include  Drumming up support in the Parties  Informing Party Members  The Eyes and Ears of the Party Leaders Kevin McCarthy Nancy Pelosi

Senate Leaders  The Vice President  The Leader of the Senate according to the Constitution  However he has no power in the Senate other then to organize Senate discussion and break ties  President Pro Tempore  Means “President for the Time Being”  Usually the Longest Serving member of the Majority Party  Duties Include:  Organizing Debates  Scheduling  Communicating with the President Daniel Inouye

Senate Leaders Cont. Floor Leaders  Majority and Minority Party Leaders  Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps  Party Whips and Deputy Whips  Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps

The Filibuster  A Product of the Unlimited Debate rule in the Senate  A Filibuster is when a Senator delays a vote by speaking for hours on end  Filibusters can only be Broken by a 3/5 vote of the Senate (60 members)