Congress In Action Chapter Twelve

Congress Organizes New Congress convenes January 3, every odd- numbered year

House of Reps First Day Clerk (non-member) chosen –Presides opening day –Calls to order, checks roll Speaker of the House –Voted in –Already known –Swears in other members –Next in line of succession behind VP

First day, cont. Non-member officers chosen –Sergeant of arms, chaplain, etc. Adoption of rules Appointment of Committees –19 permanent –Appointed by floor vote –Majority party rules in all

Senate First Day Little change because a continuous body

State of the Union Presidential address Both houses present State of domestic and foreign affairs televised oftheunion.htm

Presiding Officers Speaker of the House –From majority party –Presides and keeps order –Appoints someone if absent –Must recognize speakers –Interprets and applies rules –Refers bills to committees –Motions to vote –Decides outcomes –May vote or debate –Can be very powerful position

Senate –VP of US –Recognizes members –Puts questions to vote –Cannot speak or debate –Can only vote to break tie –President Pro Tempore Presides when VP absent (most of the time)

Party Officers Party Caucus –Closed party meeting –Discusses party leadership Floor Leaders –Not in Constitution –Spokespersons for party –Majority/Minority Leaders –Majority/Minority Whips

Keys to understanding Party affiliation Seniority MOST WORK OF CONGRESS IS DONE IN COMMITTEES! BILLS LIVE OR DIE BASED ON THE COMMITTEE THAT GETS THEM FIRST!

Committee Chairpersons Head standing committees From Majority party Seniority rules, sometimes

Committees Divides up the work Standing –Permanent –19 House, 17 Senate Select –Special purpose, temporary Joint –Members of both houses Conference –Created to pass bill if both houses can’t agree

House Rules Committee “Traffic cop” Screen bills after committee, before floor consideration 13 members Can speed, delay, or prevent action Very important Gives rules to bills

Bill to Law Begins with an idea A member (sponsor) proposes the bill in Congress The bill gets a number The bill is introduced in both houses It is assigned to a committee A committee discusses the bill and maybe changes it The committee votes

If approved the bill goes to the full H of R or Senate It is put on the calendar and debated on There is a motion to vote The bill is passed by a majority of members of both houses If different versions are passed a conference committee is created The bill, with changes, goes back to the houses for a vote

If both houses pass the amended bill it goes to the President The President signs the bill into law or Vetoes the bill or If the President does not sign the bill and Congress is still in session within 10 days it becomes law, but if they adjourn it dies (pocket veto) The veto may be overridden by a 2/3 vote in both houses making it a law