1. CH. 7 - CONGRESS
Student notes 3

2. CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURE
Each chamber has a majority party and a minority party
Based on the number of seats won in the previous election – there’s power in numbers – more seats your party has more CONTROL

3. Congressional Leadership
The House
Led by Speaker of the House- elected by House members.
Presides over the House
Controls what bills go to which committees
Major role in committee assignments and legislation.
Liaison to the president
Majority/Minority Leaders/Whips
Majority leader, minority leader, and whips
The Senate
Officially led by Vice President.
Really lead by Majority Leader- chosen by party members.
Minority leader and whips

4. HOUSE LEADERSHIP
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: (required by Constitution) elected by majority vote
MAJORITY LEADER: chosen by majority party to represent its goals and policies
Elected by a caucus to foster cohesion among party members
MAJORITY WHIP: assistant to MajL, agenda setter, group communicator, issue planner
“assistant” to Leader; make sure they vote “in line”
MINORITY LEADER: leader of opposition party
MINORITY WHIP: assistant to MinL, liaison to minority party members

5. SPOTLIGHT: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Leader of the ENTIRE HOR, but a partisan position
Appointed by the ENTIRE HOR
ONLY Constitutional leadership position in the HOR
Serves as an active representative
Proceed over meetings of the House, appoint members of joint and conference committees, schedule legislation for floor action, refer bills to appropriate committee

6. SENATE LEADERSHIP
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: constitutionally the VP. Monitor debates, mostly breaks tie
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: constitutionally serves if VP unavailable (ceremonial)
MAJORITY LEADER: elected by party caucus to lead procedures, set agenda (leads Senate)
Actual leader in Senate; recognized first in debate; schedule debate on floor; allocate committee assignments; mobilize party support for bills
SENATE WHIP (majority): same as House
MINORITY LEADER: leads the interests of minority party
SENATE WHIP (minority): same as House

7. CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUSES
A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic.
All members are members of one or more
Most important: party caucuses in each chamber
Bring together members who have similar political views
Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Potato Caucus, Rust Belt Caucus
Basically Congress is filled with caucuses

8. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES
Congress divides its tasks among approximately 250 committees and subcommittees.
Each considers bills and issues and recommends measures for consideration by the House
A way to provide for specialization or a division of the legislative labor
Have oversight responsibilities to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions
The total number of committee slots allotted to each party is approximately the same as the ratio between majority party and minority party members in the full chamber.
CONTROL THE CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA AND GUIDE LEGISLATION FROM ITS INTRODUCTION TO ITS SEND-OFF
"little legislatures" determine whether a bill will reach the floor and be called for a vote

9. IMPORTANT HOUSE COMMITTEES
Members seek prestigious committee appointments as well as those that relate to constituents Members in both chambers are appointed by the Steering Committee Seniority system informal but not absolute
IMPORTANT HOUSE COMMITTEES
Ways and Means
chief tax-writing committee
“All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.”
Appropriations
Regulated how federal money is spent
Rules
determines rules that set the time limit on debate and determines whether and how a bill may be amended
Open rule – any member can offer amendment
Closed rule - no amendments may be offered other than amendments recommended by the committee reporting the bill

10. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking.

11. COMMITTEES STANDING COMMITTEE : Permanent, work on annual items
Responsible for issues from agriculture, armed services, energy, homeland security, ways and means
Considered more prestigious than others b/c of importance of work
JOINT COMMITTEE:
Members of both chambers

12. COMMITTEES SELECT/SPECIAL COMMITTEE: CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
Temporary to address emerging issues (unless it’s a permanent select)
Set up to investigate or research issues beyond authority of standing committee
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
Differences emerge from House and Senate debates
Includes major sponsors from both chambers
Compromises on the version differences
Creates united bill

13. Permanent Committees of Congress
House Standing Committee
Senate Standing Committee
Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed services
Budget
Education
Judiciary
International Relations
Rules
Science
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans Affairs
Ways and Means
Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Environment
Foreign Relations
Indian Affairs
Judiciary
Small Business
Veterans’ Affairs

14. STANDING:
Appropriations Committees recommend legislation to provide budget authority for federal agencies and programs
Budget Committees establish aggregate levels for total spending and revenue that serve as guidelines for the work of the authorizing and appropriating panels
JOINT
Joint Committee on Printing oversees the functions of the Government Printing Office
Joint Committee on the Library: devoted to the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress, the library of the federal legislature

15. SPECIAL/SELECT: CONFERENCE:
Indian affairs, ethics, intelligence, aging
Aging: studies issues related to older Americans, particularly Medicare and SS
CONFERENCE:
Process enabling most bills to become law
Negotiate a compromise bill that both houses can accept
Made up mostly of chairs from both houses committees

16. Majority party has majority of seats on the committees

17. WHY DOESN’T ANYTHING GET DONE?
Consent of a bill takes too many people:
Majorities on the relevant committees and subcommittees of EACH chamber (and chairs)
Appropriations committee of EACH chamber (and chairs)
House Rules Committee
Chamber majorities
Majority party leaders
President

18. PARTISAN V. BIPARTISAN

19. The Congressional Process
Presidents and Congress: Partners and Antagonists
Presidents have many resources to influence Congress, including electoral support.
In order to “win” in Congress, the president must win several battles in each house.
Presidents have the power of veto to ultimately influence legislation.