{ Date: October 16, 2012 Topic: Party Leadership and Committees in Congress. Aim: How does party leadership and committees play key roles in the legislative process? Do Now: Get Ready. LET’S GET MOVING!

 Standing Committees – more or less permanent bodies with specified legislative responsibilities. morelessmoreless  Ex: House Committee on Homeland Security/Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.  Select Committees – groups appointed for a limited purpose and usually lasting for only a few congresses.  Joint Committees – those on which both representatives and senators serve.  Conference Committees – a type of joint committee where members of senate and house work to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill. Committees in Congress

 Specialization – members of Congress tend to specialize in the work of their individual committees.  Division of labor – members of Congress then spread their knowledge to other members of Congress.  Reciprocity/logrolling – a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers.  Party Representation on Committees – the committee will represent the chamber as a whole.  Parties will attempt to push their own agendas and determine leadership on committees. Elements of the Committee System that Impacts Legislative Process

 Scheduling – ex: debates.  Agenda Setting.  Recognition on the floor.  Assignment of members on committees – Ex: Senate – Steering Committee (D), Committee on Committees (R).  House – Steering and Policy Committee (D) and Committee on Committees (R)  HOW DO EACH OF THESE IMPACT THE LEGISLAIVE PROCESS? Influence of Party Leadership on Legislative Process

 1.) Hold Committee Chairs  2.) Controls the Rules Committee (No Rules Committee in Senate)  Rules of the House of Representatives are drafted when the new “House” convenes.  Ensures that rules are being followed.  Sets the rules of debate (there are limits in the House unlike the Senate). Debate time? No debate time at all? Amendments to the bill?  The majority party always holds a 9-4 advantage – “traffic cop” of Congress.  3.) Sets the agenda.  4.) Controls the debate.  5.) Chooses the Speaker of the House.  6.) Holds majority on each committee.  7.) Assigns bills to committees. Advantages of the Majority Party in the House (above numbers).

Differences Between the House and Senate - Bill Pass in one chamber but not the other.

 Sample Checklist to Test Germaneness  Does the amendment deal with a different topic or subject?  Does the amendment unreasonably or unduly expand the subject of the bill?  Would the amendment introduce an independent question?  Is the amendment relevant, appropriate, and in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal?  Would the amendment change the purpose, scope or object of the original bill?  Would the amendment change one type of motion into another type?  Would the amendment change a private (or local) bill into a general bill?  Would the amendment require a change in the bill title?

CAUCUSES  Groups (may be bipartisan) meeting to pursue common legislative objectives  Rivals to parties in policy formulation  Examples: Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Out of Iraq Caucus, s Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus, House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children

Floor Action - Senate  Party leaders schedule bills for floor debate on the calendar  Unlimited debate  Filibuster - member(s) keep talking to block debate on a bill  Cloture vote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster  Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act