Chapter 8.3 How Congress is Organized

Leadership in Congress House of Reps Presiding officer- Speaker of the House Senate Presiding officer-V.P.

President Pro Tempore or Pro Tem, preside over the senate when V.P not there Party with more members= majority Fewer members=minority

Majority party in House, chooses Speaker Majority party in Senate, chooses Pro Tem Speaker of the House Presides over sessions Order of business

Who may speak Appoints members of committees President of Senate Cannot take part in debate Only vote in a tie

Floor Leaders Chief officers of majority and minority parties Guide bills through congress Persuade to accept compromises or trade-offs

Assistant floor leaders=whips Persuade to support the party’s position on key issues

Working in Committees 10,000 bills introduced in a term of congress Only members of Congress can introduce bills Dropping into a hopper

Senator reads bill aloud from senate floor HR-house, S-senate # in order that they are introduced

Standing Committees 16 permanent in Senate 20 in House Deals with certain area (education) Numerous speakers brought in

Committee decides whether to recommend the House and Senate vote on the bill If they do not the bill dies Chair of each committee belongs to the majority party

Joint committee made up of members of both houses Conference committees If two houses can’t agree goes to temp. joint committee

This is called a conference committee President’s Role Signs it Holds the bill for ten days without either signing or vetoing it.

Veto Send back to Congress unsigned 2/3 vote for override Pocket veto-keeps the bill for 10 days, Congress ends session