THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Chapter 5 Section 2

Rules  House and Senate print rules every 2 years  In House, rules geared toward moving legislation quickly

Committees  Perform most legislative activity  Committee work most important in House  Why? – Size of House

House Leadership  6 goals:  Organizing, unifying party members  Scheduling work  Make lawmakers present for voting  Distribute, collect info  Keep House in touch w/ president  Influence to support party’s positions

Speaker of House  Presiding officer, most powerful leader in House  Presides over sessions  Has influence, can choose who can speak  Appoints members of some committees  Schedule bills, refers to committee

House Floor Leaders  Top assistant to Speaker – Majority leader  Plans party’s legislative program  Guides bills through House  Ensure committees finish work on bills  Elected by majority party  Has help from whips  Whips serve as assistant floor leaders in House

Lawmaking  Most work done on Tues-Thurs  All laws start as bills  To introduce bill, members drop into mahogany box  Only 10-20% of bills ever go to full House for vote

House Rules Committee  Serve as “traffic officer”, direct flow of legislation  Settle disputes among committees  Often delay, block bills that leaders do not want to come to vote  Quorum minimum # of members (218) needed for official action