1. 11.3
Organization of Congress

2. Congress “1st branch of the government Article 1in the “C”
Closest to the will of the people

3. Bicameral Legislature
2 houses
House of Representitives
Senate
Both = lawmaking yet different
Page 200

4. House More frequent elections Every 2 years “the people’s body”
Reflection of society

5. Senate More elite 6 year term Originally elected by state lawmakers
Act as steadying influence on Congress

6. 1913
17th “A”
Senate elected by voters
2 houses are equal

7. Leadership Organization based in 2 major political parties
Majority party controls agenda
Majority party takes leadership roles

8. ### Majority = more seats Minority = less seats
Regarding Republicans & Democrats

9. 3 leadership roles in House
Speaker of the House (Paul Ryan)
Power & prestige
Nominated by party & wins position by vote of House
Presides over House
Appoints members to committees
Decides which bills will be debated on & when

10. Majority & Minority Leaders
Elected by their parties
Manage legislation on the floor
Majority = 2nd in command
Minority = main strategist

11. Majority & Minority Whips
Assistant floor leaders
Keeps party informed
Persuades members to vote as the party wishes

12. Leadership in Senate President of the Senate = VP of US
Official Position assigned by the “C”
To preside over Senate
Votes in case of a tie
Mike Pence

13. President of the Senate pro tempore
Senior senator in the majority party
(been there the longest)
Orin Hatch of Utah (40 years)
Ceremonial title
May preside over senate if VP is not there

14. Majority Leader Spokesperson for the party
Member of the Majority Party
True Leader of Senate
Mitch McConnell

15. Minority Leader Leader of the minority party Shapes polity
Devise strategies for stopping opposition
Helps schedule business on the Senate floor
Charles Schumer

16. Majority & Minority Whips
Stand in for leaders if needed
Anything else depends on needs of party

17. Page 201 House Senate Speaker* ® President of the Senate®
President pro tempore®
Majority Leader® Majority Leader*®
Minority Leader (d) Minority Leader (d)
Whips ® & (d) Whips ® & (d)

18. Congressional Committee System
Individual legislators do not have time or expertise to understand everything
Rely on division of labor

19. Committees
Lawmaking is done in committees
5 types

20. Standing Committee Permanent Each has a broad area EX: foreign policy
Gather info
Monitor government agencies

21. subcommittee Most work is done here Bills go here to be reviewed
Most “die” here

22. Joint committee
Small number of permanent committees made up of both House & Senate members
Deal with interests & issues relating to both sides

23. Conference Committee Temporary joint committee
Formed to figure out differences between two versions of a bill passed by the House & Senate
Both chambers must pass a bill in identical form

24. Staff Congressional staffers Personal staff
1000 for both House & Senate
16-40 for each member

25. Support Agencies Congressional Research Service
General Accountability Office
Congressional Budget Office

26. Caucuses & Coalitions Unofficial groups 300
Certain interests or specific subjects
Either party
Ex: climate change/technology

27. Check??? The US has a ________ legislature
The leadership position in the House ?
The true leadership position of the Senate?
Who is the President of the Senate?
Term of the House?
Term of the Senate?