1. Legislative Terms

2. Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Chosen by and from the majority party in the house
To preside and keep order
Follows the Vice-President in order of succession
John Boehner

3. President of the Senate
Vice-President’s only job
Presiding officer of the Senate
Cannot debate or take the floor to speak
May only vote to break a tie

4. President Pro Tempore Serves in the Vice-President’s absence
Elected by the Senate
Leading member of the majority party
Usually longest serving member
Follows Speaker in line of succession
Patrick Leahy

5. Party Caucus Closed meeting of each party of each house
Meets before Congress convenes
Deal with party organizations
Select nominations for party leaders

6. Floor Leaders Picked by their party colleagues Legislative strategists
Try to steer floor action to their party’s favor
Chief spokesman for his party in his chamber
Majority leader is more powerful
Senate Leadership
Majority Leader of the United States Senate Democratic Leader
Harry Reid
Minority Leader of the United States Senate Republican Leader
Mitch McConnell

7. Whips Assistant to floor leaders Chosen by party caucus
Serves as a liaison – a two way link between the party’s leadership and its rank and file
Work to count up votes on particular matters
Makes sure members are present for important votes
Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives
Steve Scalise
Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives
Steny Hoyer
House of Representatives Leadership

8. Committee Chairmen
The most important posts are held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress
Head of particular committees within the Congress

9. Standing Committees Permanent committees
Both Senate and House have Standing Committees
Agriculture
Budget
Education and the Workforce
Financial Services

10. House Rules Committee “Traffic Cop”
Bills go through this committee before it goes to the floor
13 members

11. Select Committees Special Committees
For a specific reason and limited time

12. Joint Committee Members of both houses Economic The Library Printing
Taxation

13. Conference Committees
Created to iron out differences on a bill
Their job is produce a compromised bill that both houses will accept