Congress Gets Organized! The First Day in the House The First Day in the House All members are sworn in All members are sworn in House elects the Speaker House elects the Speaker Always a member of the majority party – they have picked him in private meetings before session Always a member of the majority party – they have picked him in private meetings before session

Congress Gets Organized! The First Day in the House The First Day in the House Members are put into committees Members are put into committees Majority party gets a majority in every committee Majority party gets a majority in every committee Seniority Rule Seniority Rule

Congress Gets Organized! First Day in the Senate First Day in the Senate 1/3 of the members are sworn 1/3 of the members are sworn Vacant committee seats are filled Vacant committee seats are filled

House Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House John Boehner R-OH) John Boehner R-OH) Presides over House session Presides over House session

House Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Refers bills to relevant committee Refers bills to relevant committee Appoints members of the Rules committee Appoints members of the Rules committee

House Leadership House Majority Leader House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) Helps Speaker to plan party strategy

House Leadership House Majority Whip House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R- CA) Kevin McCarthy (R- CA) Right hand man of Maj. Leader Right hand man of Maj. Leader

House Leadership Link between leadership and “rank and file” Link between leadership and “rank and file” Check who plans to vote and how Check who plans to vote and how Persuade “defectors” to vote with the party Persuade “defectors” to vote with the party

House Leadership House Minority Leader House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D- CA) Plans minority party strategy to take power back Expected to become Speaker if they win

House Leadership House Minority Whip House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Strategy & advice Strategy & advice

Senate Leadership President of the Senate President of the Senate = Vice President of the U.S. Joe Biden

Senate Leadership Presides over the Senate Powerless and thankless job V.P. has better things to do Can only vote to break a tie

Senate Leadership President Pro- Tempore of the Senate President Pro- Tempore of the Senate Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Presides in place of the VP Presides in place of the VP

Senate Leadership President Pro- Tempore of the Senate President Pro- Tempore of the Senate Longest serving member of the majority party Longest serving member of the majority party Also doesn’t want to do it, passes the job off on junior members Also doesn’t want to do it, passes the job off on junior members

Senate Leadership Senate Majority Leader Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Leadership Senate Majority Leader Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Plans party strategy

Senate Leadership Places bills on the calendar for voting May speak first on any bill

Senate Leadership Senate Majority Whip Senate Majority Whip Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-IL) Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-IL) Organizes votes, advise Maj. Leader Organizes votes, advise Maj. Leader

Senate Leadership Senate Minority Leader Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senate Leadership Senate Minority Whip Senate Minority Whip John Kyl John Kyl (R-AZ) (R-AZ) Strategy, advice organize votes, order of business Strategy, advice organize votes, order of business

Committees Committee – expert groups of Congressmen who decide what bills will go to the whole house for a vote Committee – expert groups of Congressmen who decide what bills will go to the whole house for a vote Most work in Congress is done in committees Most work in Congress is done in committees

Types of Committees Standing Committee – permanent committees that remain from session to session Standing Committee – permanent committees that remain from session to session Examples: Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Agriculture, Judiciary Examples: Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Agriculture, Judiciary

Types of Committees Select or Special Committees – Temporary committee to investigate wrongdoing or research a special matter Select or Special Committees – Temporary committee to investigate wrongdoing or research a special matter Examples: Senate Watergate Committee, Select Committee on Aging Examples: Senate Watergate Committee, Select Committee on Aging

Types of Committees Joint Committees – have members of both the House and Senate Joint Committees – have members of both the House and Senate Conference Committees – compromise different versions of bills between House and Senate Conference Committees – compromise different versions of bills between House and Senate

Types of Bills and Resolutions What is the deal with types of bills and resolutions? Bill – Addition or change to public law

Types of Bills and Resolutions What is the deal with types of bills and resolutions? Resolution – possibly legally binding, but not always

How a Bill Becomes a Law For a brief overview, let’s watch a short documentary on the process For a brief overview, let’s watch a short documentary on the process

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 1 – The House Step 1 – The House Bill is introduced Bill is introduced Can only be introduced by a member of the House Can only be introduced by a member of the House Bill is read to the entire chamber Bill is read to the entire chamber

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 2 – The House Step 2 – The House Referred to a standing committee Referred to a standing committee Speaker of the House chooses the committee Speaker of the House chooses the committee Full committee decides whether to consider it, or “pidgeonhole” it Full committee decides whether to consider it, or “pidgeonhole” it

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 3 – The House Step 3 – The House Referred to subcommittee Referred to subcommittee Chairman of the committee decides which subcommittee Chairman of the committee decides which subcommittee Subcommittee does the vast majority of research and work on the bill Subcommittee does the vast majority of research and work on the bill 90% of bills die in steps 2 and 3 90% of bills die in steps 2 and 3

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 4 – The House Step 4 – The House Committee/Subcommittee Hearings Committee/Subcommittee Hearings Government officials, experts invited to speak in favor or against bills Government officials, experts invited to speak in favor or against bills Congressmen may take “junkets,” or trips to locations for further research Congressmen may take “junkets,” or trips to locations for further research Meanwhile, they “markup,” or make changes to the bill Meanwhile, they “markup,” or make changes to the bill

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 5 – The House Step 5 – The House Sent back to full committee Sent back to full committee Committee can either Committee can either Send the bill to step 6 with a “do pass” recommendation Send the bill to step 6 with a “do pass” recommendation Or refuse to report the bill, thus killing it Or refuse to report the bill, thus killing it Oh, no!!

How a Bill Becomes a Law *If the rest of Congress disagrees with a committee’s decision to kill a bill, there is one option* *If the rest of Congress disagrees with a committee’s decision to kill a bill, there is one option* Discharge Petition – majority of the House votes to pull a dead bill out of committee Discharge Petition – majority of the House votes to pull a dead bill out of committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 6 – The House Step 6 – The House Referred to Rules Committee Referred to Rules Committee Places bill on the calendar Places bill on the calendar Sets the rules for time limits and number of amendments allowed Sets the rules for time limits and number of amendments allowed If they refuse to put rules on it… If they refuse to put rules on it… Oh, no!!

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 7 – The House Step 7 – The House Whole House Debates Whole House Debates Debate is meaningless these days – no one even shows up, except those scheduled to speak Debate is meaningless these days – no one even shows up, except those scheduled to speak

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 8 – The House Step 8 – The House Whole House Votes Whole House Votes Majority vote passes, sends bill to the Senate Majority vote passes, sends bill to the Senate

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 9 – The Senate Step 9 – The Senate Introduced in the Senate Introduced in the Senate Step 10 – The Senate Step 10 – The Senate Referred to a standing committee Referred to a standing committee Senate Majority Leader chooses which committee Senate Majority Leader chooses which committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step – The Senate Step – The Senate Same as House – referred to subcommittee, back to committee, then out to floor for debate Same as House – referred to subcommittee, back to committee, then out to floor for debate

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 13 – The Senate Step 13 – The Senate Whole Senate Debates Whole Senate Debates No Rules Committee, so no limits on time or amendments No Rules Committee, so no limits on time or amendments Filibuster – talking at length to stall action on a bill, can only be ended by cloture (60 votes) Filibuster – talking at length to stall action on a bill, can only be ended by cloture (60 votes) Riders – amendments that have nothing to do with a bill Riders – amendments that have nothing to do with a bill

This leads to…

Taxpayers Paid For… $167,000 for Horn Fly Research (AL) $167,000 for Horn Fly Research (AL) $1 million for Mormon Cricket suppression (UT) $1 million for Mormon Cricket suppression (UT) $2 million for the “First Tee” program, teaching inner-city kids to play golf $2 million for the “First Tee” program, teaching inner-city kids to play golf $270,000 for potato storage (WI) $270,000 for potato storage (WI) $270,000 to combat “Goth Culture” (MO) $270,000 to combat “Goth Culture” (MO)

Pork Barrel Spending How congressmen “bring home the bacon” How congressmen “bring home the bacon” Shows constituents that their congressman gets “things” for their district or state Shows constituents that their congressman gets “things” for their district or state Helps congressman win reelection! Helps congressman win reelection!

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 14 – The Senate Step 14 – The Senate Senate votes Senate votes Step 15 – Conference Committee Step 15 – Conference Committee Members of both houses’ subcommittees that worked on the bill compromise Members of both houses’ subcommittees that worked on the bill compromise Both houses then vote again on the compromise bill Both houses then vote again on the compromise bill

How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 16 – The President Step 16 – The President President has 4 options: President has 4 options: Sign the bill, make it law Sign the bill, make it law Veto the bill, explain why Veto the bill, explain why Goes back to Congress, who can override with 2/3 vote in both houses Goes back to Congress, who can override with 2/3 vote in both houses

How a Bill Becomes a Law Wait 10 days and let it become law without his signature Wait 10 days and let it become law without his signature Pocket Veto - If Congress ends its session before 10 days are up, bill dies without a veto Pocket Veto - If Congress ends its session before 10 days are up, bill dies without a veto