1. Congressional Organization, Staff & Agencies

2. Leaders in Congress HOR Click here! How do they get their jobs?
Speaker of House
Majority & Minority Leaders
Majority & Minority Whips
Policy/Steering Comm.
How do they get their jobs?
Who are they?
What do they do?
Senate Click here!
Pres. Of Senate
Pro Tempore
Majority & Minority Leaders
Majority & Minority Whips
Policy/Steering Comm.
How do they get their jobs?
Who are they?
What do they do?
Have students get on sides of Democrats and Republicans.
Determine the majority party.
Have each side choose their leaders.
Get new seats by “seniority” system. (Use their birthdays)

3. Party Votes in Congress

6. Demographic Divide in the House

7. Party Polarization
Are Republicans too conservative & Democrats too liberal?
What do you see as the root causes of this polarization?
What are the drawbacks of this polarization?
What are the benefits of this polarization?

8. Caucuses Define the term. Why Form or Join a Caucus?
Association that advocates for a certain goal.
6 Types:
Intraparty, Personal Interest, Constituency: National, Constituency: Regional, Constituency: Demographic, Constituency: Economic
Why Form or Join a Caucus?
to build social ties
to coordinate and promote legislative agendas
to look good to individual or corporate constituents.

9. Caucuses
The Number of Caucuses has grown despite threats to end the practice in the HOR.
Let’s look at a few lists:

10. Congressional Committees
Most of the work of Congress takes place in committees.
Real power in Congress lies with Committee Chairs.
Types of Committees:
Rules (HOR)
Standing (permanent)
Select (study issues & problems—temporary)
Joint (members of both houses—temporary)
Conference (Write a compromise bill)

11. Congressional Committees
20 standing committees in the HOR
17 standing committees in Senate
Each party usually has proportional representation on every committee
Each lawmaker sits on at least 1 committee; most sit on 2, especially in the Senate. Most sit on 1 major and 1 minor committee.

12. Congressional Committees
Chairs are chosen by party caucus
Usually most senior—not always, though
Usually hire staff, set the agenda, recognize members to speak.
Reasons to be appointed to the right committee:
Become policy specialists in particular areas
Helps members with re-election and earmarks
Gives lawmaker power over others
Provides free press/exposure to constituents

13. Legislative Assistant (LA) Administrative Assistant (AA)
Congressional Staff
Explain the following charts and the jobs of each of the types of staff.
Committee Staff
Personal Staff
Work for a member of Congress
Assigned to staff a committee
Legislative Assistant (LA)
Caseworkers
Administrative Assistant (AA)

14. Congressional Support Agencies
Take notes on each agency:
Library of Congress & CRC
Congressional Budget Office
General Accountability Office