1. C H A P T E R 12 Congress in Action
American Government
C H A P T E R 12 Congress in Action .

2. Congress Convenes
Congress convenes every two years—on January 3 of every odd-numbered year.
The House has formal organizational meetings at the beginning of each term to determine committee membership and standing officers.
The Senate, because it is a continuous body, has fewer organizational issues to address at the start of each term.
When Congress is organized, the President presents a State of the Union message to a joint session of Congress. This message, in which the President reports on the state of the nation as he sees it, is given annually. 2 3 4
Chapter 12, Section 1

3. The Presiding Officers
The Speaker of the House
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the acknowledged leader of the majority party.
The Speaker’s main duties revolve around presiding over and keeping order in the House.
The Speaker names the members of all select and conference committees, and signs all bills and resolutions passed by the House.
The President of the Senate
The job of president of the Senate is assigned by the Constitution to the Vice President.
The president of the Senate has many of the same duties as the Speaker of the House, but cannot cast votes on legislation.
The president pro tempore, the leader of the majority party, is elected from the Senate and serves in the Vice President’s absence.

4. Party Officers 2 3 4 The Party Caucus The Floor Leaders
The party caucus is a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house which deals with matters of party organization.
The Floor Leaders
The floor leaders are party officers picked for their posts by their party colleagues.
The party whips assist the floor leaders and serve as a liaison between the party’s leadership and its rank-and-file members. 2 3 4
Chapter 12, Section 1

5. Committee Chairmen and Seniority Rule
The committee chairmen are the members who head the standing committees in each chamber of Congress.
The chairman of each of these permanent committees is chosen from the majority party by the majority party caucus.
Seniority Rule
The seniority rule, an unwritten custom, holds that the most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress.
The head of each committee is often the longest-serving member of the committee from the majority party.

6. Standing Committees
Standing committees are permanent panels in Congress to which bills of similar nature could be sent.
Most of the standing committees handle bills dealing with particular policy matters, such as veterans’ affairs or foreign relations.
The majority party always holds a majority of the seats on each committee (the lone exception being the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct).

7. Permanent Committees of Congress

8. The House Rules Committee and Select Committees
The Rules Committee decides whether and under what conditions the full House will consider a measure.
This places great power in the Rules Committee, as it can speed, delay, or even prevent House action on a measure.
The Select Committees
Select committees are panels established to handle a specific matter and usually exist for a limited time.
Most select committees are formed to investigate a current matter.

9. Joint and Conference Committees
A joint committee is one composed of members of both houses.
Examples of joint committees include the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Printing, and the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress
A conference committee—a temporary, joint body—is created to iron out differences between bills passed by the House and Senate before they are sent to the President. 2

10. The First Steps
A bill is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.
A bill or resolution usually deals with a single matter, but sometimes a rider dealing with an unrelated matter is included.
The clerk of the House numbers each bill, gives it a short title, and enters it into the House Journal and the Congressional Record for the day. With these actions the bill has received its first reading.

11. Step #1: Introducing A Bill
Anyone may introduce a Bill
In the House of Representatives:
Hand Bill to a clerk
Drop Bill into a “hopper” (tradition from UK)
In the Senate:
Being recognized by the presiding officer and announcing the bill’s introduction
Bill is numbered and sent to a printer

12. Step #2: Study By Committee
Bill referred to a committee by either;
Speaker of the House
Presiding officer of the Senate
Rules govern which committee will get a bill
Rules vary per house

13. Step #2a: Study By Sub-Committee
2. Referred to a Sub- committee
Sub Committees are the research arm of the larger, Full/Standing Committee
Multiple Referral vs. Sequential Referral
What happens in a subcommittee?
Witnesses appear
Evidence is taken
Questions are asked
Hearings used to
Inform members
Permit interest groups
Build public support
Sample Testimony
3. After hearing, sub- committee “marks up” bill

14. Step #2: Study By Committee
Note about Committees:
Committees may hold bills hostage!
Discharge Petition
House – 218 signatures
Senate – motion
Last 100 years – attempted times, successful 24 times
4. Back to the Standing Committee for a possible vote
If majority of the committee votes to report a bill out of committee, it goes on
Accompanied by a report that explains:
Why the committee favored it
Why they wish to see its amendments, if any, adopted
b) If the committee does not report favorably on the bill, the bill dies
Are we done yet? I’m bored

15. Out of Committee…onto Rules
5. Bill must be placed on calendar before it can go before the house again
Though it goes on the calendar,
Not considered in order or
Necessarily at all
6. Moves onto Rules Committee

16. Step #3: Floor Debate THE HOUSE THE SENATE No rule limiting debate
Discussed by “Committee of the Whole”
Whoever is present at the time
Quorum for C.W.: 100 ppl (usually 218)
Speaker chooses presider
Committee debates, amends, decides final shape
During this time, no riders allowed- unless related to bill’s purpose
Time for debate divided evenly
5 minutes per person
“Quorum Call”- time staller
No rule limiting debate
Senators can speak as long as they want
Remarks need not be relevant
Anyone can offer an Amendment at anytime
Amendments need not be germane
Often had many riders
No Committee of the Whole
If house has passed a bill, Committee hearing can be waived in Senate
Senate Filibuster- time staller

17. Step #3: Floor Debate vs. THE SENATE (continued)
Filibuster -The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.
Strom Thurmond
set a record in 1957 by filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes, although the bill ultimately passed. Thurmond broke the previous record of 22 hours and 26 minutes set by Wayne Morse (I-OR) in 1953 protesting the Tidelands Oil legislation.
Visited a steam room before his filibuster in order to dehydrate himself so he could drink without urinating. An aide stood by in the cloakroom with a pail in case of emergency.“
Cloture Rule- parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion.
Requires 16 Senators for petition
Motion is voted on 2 days after petition is introduced
To pass, 3/5 of Senate membership is needed- 60 Senators
If passed, each Senator is limited to 1 hour of debate
After that, total debate can only = 100 hours (including role call)
vs.

18. Step #4 Voting THE HOUSE The Senate
Voice Vote-
Yea vs Nay
Division (Standing Vote)-
Stand and be counted
(in both, members names are not recorded)
Teller Vote-
the members pass between two tellers..yeas first, nays second
Usually recorded
Role Call Vote-
Yea or Nay to people’s names
Can be done at the request of 1/5 of reps present
The Senate
No teller vote and not electronic counters
THE HOUSE

19. Step #5 (Sometimes): Reconciling Different Bills
If a bill passes the house differently in the House than in the Senate, differences must be reconciled.
If changes minor, last house may refer back to first house to accept alterations
If differences are major, bill goes to conference committee:
Each house votes to make committee
Members picked by chairperson of the House + Senate Committees that have been handling the bill
3-15 members per house (depending on bill)
Decision must be approved by majority of all members
Bill goes back to each house to accept or reject

20. Step #6: Off To The White House
If bill is accepted by both houses, goes to President
President’s options:
Sign or veto
If President signs, Bill becomes a law!
If President vetos, bill goes back to Congress
Congress can override with a 2/3 vote of members present in each house (if quorum exists)
Vote must be a roll call