The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress Is Organized Section Reading Support Transparency Section Outline I. Leadership in Congress II. Working in a Committee III. The President’s Role 1 of 8

The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress is Organized Main Idea Key Terms Both houses of Congress choose leaders and assign members to committees. The committees work on bills before they are voted on. The President can sign or veto a bill. Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Floor leaders Pocket veto 2 of 8

The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress Is Organized Leadership in Congress House: Speaker of the House Presiding officer in the House of Representatives Senate: President Pro Tempore The Vice President is president of the Senate. Presiding officer of the Senate, when the Vice President is absent Floor Leaders The chief officers of the majority and minority parties in each house Assistant leaders are called whips. 3 of 8

The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress Is Organized Working in Committees Go Online: How a Bill Becomes a Law Only Congress can introduce bills Standing Committees There are 36 total committees dedicated to certain needs, such as education or banking. Committees and Bills When introduced, bills go to a committee for analysis. The committee decides whether or not the bill is to be voted on in the House or Senate. 4 of 8

The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress is Organized The President’s Role “Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate…[and] Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives, may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President…” –Article I, Section 7, Clauses 2 and 3. 5 of 8

The Legislative Branch Section 3: How Congress Is Organized The President’s Role (continued) If the President signs a bill, it becomes law. The President may veto or reject a bill by not signing it and sending it back to Congress. Congress can override the President’s veto with 2/3 majority votes in both houses. The President may use a “pocket veto” by holding a bill for 10 days during which Congress ends its session. 6 of 8

The Legislative Branch: Section 3 How a Bill Becomes a Law 7 of 8

The Legislative Branch: Section 3 Section Reading Support Transparency 8 of 8