1. House and Senate: Differences and Committees
Standard SSCG10:
The student will describe the legislative process including the roles played by committees and leadership.

2. Bell Ringer
What is a term? How many years is a Senate term? House term?
What happens to the seats in House after every census?
What is the difference between a leader and a whip?
Who are our Georgia Senators?

3. House-Senate Differences
435 members; 2 yr terms
Low turnover (means members are likely to get re- elected)
Speaker of the House has a lot of power
Scheduling of bills is controlled by majority party with powerful Rules Committee (controls time of debate, amends., etc)
Senate
100 members; 6 yr terms
Moderate turnover (members have a harder time getting re- elected)
Individual members are given more power
Scheduling of bills is agreed upon by majority party & minority party leaders

4. House-Senate Differences
Debate limited to 1 hour
Members policy specialists
Emphasizes taxing & spending policy
More formal & impersonal
Senate
Unlimited debate unless members vote to limit debate (called a vote of cloture)
Members policy generalists
Emphasizes foreign policy
More informal & personal

5. Membership:
Difference is stated in the Constitution
House is “closer to the people” with representation based on population and 2 year terms
Senate smaller, more deliberative

6. Turnover:
1. House: Incumbents win re-election over 90% of the time
2. Senate races are state-wide and more competitive

7. Leadership: House Senate
Members limited by strict rules (Because of 435)
Difficult for individual members to challenge the Speaker of the House
Senate
More independent operators

8. Scheduling: House Senate
Majority Party tightly controls Leadership and Rules
Senate
Much more cooperation between parties
**Due to Size**

9. Debate:
House
Limited Debate
Senate
More time given to Debate

10. Members and Policy: House Senate
Members most become experts in policies that directly affect their districts
Senate
Represent diverse interest of an entire state

11. Policy Focus: House Senate
All tax and revenue bills must originate there
Public Policy decisions involve the budget
Senate
Ratify treaties
Approve Appointments

12. Decorum: House Senate Need strict rules because of size
Smaller and therefore more “community”

13. Analyze the quote below and write 1 paragraph explaining the meaning.
Closing:
Analyze the quote below and write 1 paragraph explaining the meaning.
"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”
- Woodrow Wilson