Chapter Five: Committees Chapter Seven: Congress at work

Congress Convenes Opening day for congress: January 3 rd at noon, on odd numbered years Opening day in the House A clerk calls the chamber to order and checks the role of newly elected representatives. The members-to-be choose a Speaker, who takes the oath of office and swears in the rest of the members. The House elects a clerk, sergeant at arms, doorkeeper, postmaster, and chaplain, and then adopts rules and organizes committees.

Congress Convenes (cont.) Opening day in the Senate B/c it is a continuous body, with only one third new/re-elected membership each terms, they don’t have an extensive re-organization. Instead, newly elected and reelected members are sworn in and vacancies are filled. The President’s State of the Union message A constitutionally mandated speech, the President outlines the shape of the administration’s policies and plans, and may recommend specific legislation action.

The Presiding Officers: The Speaker of the House John Boehner: Until Oct. 31st The most influential member of the House of Representatives. Has two duties: Preside over all sessions & keep order. Allowed to debate and vote on any matter. But they rarely vote, except to cause or break a tie. If there is a tie, they must vote!

The Presiding Officers: The President of the Senate According to the Constitution, the president of the Senate is the VP of the US. They recognize members, put questions to a vote. Only votes to break a tie. If they are absent, a president Pro Tempore, who is elected by the Senate and is a member of the majority party, presides.

Floor Leaders & other Party Officers The Floor Leaders The floor leaders in both the House and the Senate consist of a majority and a minority floor leader, chosen by party colleagues. The assistants of floor leaders are called “whips.” They go around and make sure that party members are voting the way they want them to. “Whip” them into good party members The Party Caucuses Closed meetings of each party in each house and deal with party organization, selection of floor leaders, and committee membership.

Committee Chairpersons Committee Chairpersons decide: When their committees will meet Which bills they will consider Whether they will hold public hearings What witnesses to call Seniority Rule Unwritten custom, most important posts are awarded according to length of service. Criticisms of Seniority Rule Say the rule ignores ability, discourages young members, encourages constant reelection of “stale” members Defenders of Seniority Rule Say it ensures experience in key posts and minimizes conflict within the party.

Standing Committees (see pg. 143) Are permanent groups to which all similar bills are sent. Today there are 19 standing committees in the House (9-74 members) and 17 (12-28) in the Senate. House members can only serve on one, and Senate members can serve on two. The Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate is responsible for assigning bills to the appropriate standing committees. Tax bills go to Ways and Means, etc.

The House Rules Committee The “Traffic Cop” in the House. This committee manages the flow of bills for action by the full House by scheduling their consideration. Because the Senate has less formal organization, the majority floor leader controls the appearance of bills on the floor.

Select Committees Are special groups set up for specific purposes and for a limited period whose members are appointed by the Speaker or the president of the Senate. Usually a select committee is formed to conduct especially important investigations, like The Senate Watergate Committee of 1973.

Joint Committees Composed of members from both houses. Appropriations, Budget, Judiciary, Small Business, Veteran’s Affairs. Usually permanent groups that serve on a regular basis.

Conference Committees Before a bill is sent to the President, it must be passed in identical form by each house. Sometimes they will pass differing versions of a bill in the first phase, and not agree on each other’s provisions. Conference Committees are created to iron out the differences on the bills. They need to produce a compromise bill both houses will accept.

How a Bill becomes a Law! Jumping to Chapter 7!!!

Introduce Activity Passing a Bill – Simulation!

Bill Simulation Steps Assign Roles: 4 total committees Two for the House Two for the Senate Two readers (1 for Bill One, 1 for Bill Two) Speakers for Bill One – 3 Speakers for Bill Two – 3

Bill Simulation Steps Bill is read to class Split into your four groups Talk about the bills for 2-5 minutes Conduct Hearings Speakers testify about the bills Committee members ask one question of each speaker Vote on whether or not to proceed with the bills Mark up time! Meet for five minutes to revise the bills to your liking

Bill Simulation Steps Reconvene All House members come together All Senate members come together Each side introduce your revisions Floor consideration (vote – yay/nay) If the bill doesn’t pass…it dies If it does pass, it goes to conference committee Conference Committee Nominate/vote on members (two from each group) Work out the kinks on the passed bills

Bill Simulation Steps Vote again The Conference Committee has one bill If it passes, it goes to the President who has four options Pass Veto Pocket Veto Ignore for ten days, and automatically it passes

How it a bill becomes a law – the House 1 st reading Goes to committee and then subcommittee Reviewed and back to full committee Can report favorably, amend it, unfavorably, totally redo it, or pigeonhole it (refuse to report). Placed on a calendar (H.R. Co.) for floor debate.

Continued – bill in the House Bill read a 2 nd time Floor debate – strict time limits Voting! Voice vote, standing vote, 1/5 quorum asks for a teller vote, or a roll-call vote. Bill read a 3 rd time and signed by Speaker Sent to Senate President (aka: Vice Pres)

The Bill in Senate Bill is read, given a title, referred to committee. Bills are called to floor by majority floor leader; different from House Rules Co. Read twice and comes back to full Senate Floor debate – unlimited! Filibuster – only in Senate. Strom Thurmond Cloture rule – shuts down with a 4/5 vote Conference Committee – smooth out differences b/t House bill and Senate bill Goes to President

What are the President’s options? Sign the bill – law! Veto – no law! Congress can override with a 2/3 vote. Not sign within ten days of receiving it… law! If Congress is about to end (within 10 days) he can give the bill a POCKET VETO. Basically sticks it in his pocket and it goes away