CHAPTER 7: THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Part II

Procedural Tools of Leadership  Committee Membership –The presiding officers exercise influence by appointing committee membership.  Selection of Committee Chairs –The presiding officers appoint the committee chairs.  Committee Jurisdiction –The presiding officers assign bills to committees.

Presiding Officers May Oppose A Bill  A bill may be a threat to the officer’s backers and financial supporters.  The backers of a bill may have been uncooperative thus the officers may punish them.  The bill’s opponents may have more bargaining power.  The bill’s backers may feel the passage of the bill might financially cripple a favorite program.

Committee Powers and Functions See pg. 269  Committees are “little legislatures”.  Committees are extensions of the presiding officers.  In committee the bills may be –rewritten –edited  Division of Labor –Bills are marked up in each committee.  Competency –The seniority system allows the chairs to become experts in a subject if returned to the same committee year after year.

Committee Powers and Functions (cont.)  Bureaucratic Oversight –Committees may also hold hearing to see that bureaucrats are carrying out public policy. –Several factors make bureaucratic oversight difficult: short legislative session movement of members from one committee to another short term for legislators when compared to top administrators.

Committee Powers and Functions (cont.)  The Calendar –Scheduling a bill is crucial to passage and success.

The Floor of the House  As bills reach the House floor, a loudspeaker system allows votes for or against.  Most legislators vote on who is supporting a bill and who is against it. –Floor leaders: representatives who are trying to get a bill passed.

The Floor of the Senate  The senate floor is similar to the house with one exception, the filibuster.  Senate rules allow a senator to speak unlimitedly to try to prevent a vote on a bill.  The presiding officer controls those who speak.

The Conference Committee  Conference committees are composed of five members of each house appointed by the respective presiding officers.  Today, conference committees iron out differences between each of the bills. –Conference committee reports

How a Bill Becomes Law  Introduction to the Senate  Assignment to committee  Senate Committee Action  Senate Calendar  Senate Floor  Introduction to the House  Assignment to a committee  House Committee action  House calendars  House floor

Institutional Leadership Tools  The Legislative Budget Board: Members and presiding officers influence the budgeting process.  The Legislative Council: The presiding officers appoint committee membership which oversees bill drafting and research.  The Legislative Audit Committee: The presiding officers, members of this committee, audit agency expenditures.  The Sunset Advisory Commission: This commission with the presiding officers as members reviews state agencies.

Restraints on the Powers of the Presiding Officers  Personality –leadership style  The Team –legislator coalitions  The Lobby and Bureaucracy –coalition of presiding officers, bureaucrats and lobby insures success  The Governor –the threat to veto and line-item veto give power  The Political Climate –scandal may limit the power of the presiding officers.  Political or Economic Ambition –political credits, interest group support, and presiding officer’s role may serve as a stepping stone to other offices.