3. Congress Gets Organized! The First Day in the House The First Day in the House All members are sworn in All members are sworn in House elects the Speaker House elects the Speaker Always a member of the majority party – they have picked her in private meetings before session Always a member of the majority party – they have picked her in private meetings before session

5. Congress Gets Organized! The First Day in the House The First Day in the House Members are put into committees Members are put into committees Also prearranged Also prearranged Majority party gets a majority in every committee Majority party gets a majority in every committee Seniority Rule – longest serving members get the first pick, become chairperson Seniority Rule – longest serving members get the first pick, become chairperson

6. Congress Gets Organized! First Day in the Senate First Day in the Senate 1/3 of the members are sworn in (only 1/3 coming off of election) 1/3 of the members are sworn in (only 1/3 coming off of election) Vacant committee seats are filled Vacant committee seats are filled

8. House Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

10. House Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Presides over House session Presides over House session

11. House Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Refers bills to relevant committee Refers bills to relevant committee Appoints members of the Rules committee Appoints members of the Rules committee

12. House Leadership House Majority Leader House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Helps Speaker to plan party strategy

13. with former Majority Leader Tom Delay

15. House Leadership House Majority Whip House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) Jim Clyburn (D-SC) Right hand man of Maj. Leader Right hand man of Maj. Leader

16. House Leadership Link between leadership and “rank and file” Link between leadership and “rank and file” Check who plans to vote and how Check who plans to vote and how Persuade “defectors” to vote with the party Persuade “defectors” to vote with the party

17. House Leadership House Minority Leader House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) Plans minority party strategy to take power back Expected to become Speaker if they win

18. House Leadership House Minority Whip House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) Eric Cantor (R-VA)

19. Senate Leadership President of the Senate President of the Senate = Vice President of the U.S. Joe Biden

20. Senate Leadership Presides over the Senate Powerless and thankless job V.P. has better things to do Can only vote to break a tie

21. Senate Leadership President Pro- Tempore of the Senate President Pro- Tempore of the Senate Robert Byrd (D-WV) Robert Byrd (D-WV) Presides in place of the VP Presides in place of the VP

22. Senate Leadership President Pro- Tempore of the Senate President Pro- Tempore of the Senate Longest serving member of the majority party Longest serving member of the majority party Also doesn’t want to do it, passes the job off on junior members Also doesn’t want to do it, passes the job off on junior members

23. Senate Leadership Senate Majority Leader Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

25. Senate Leadership Senate Majority Leader Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Plans party strategy

26. Senate Leadership Places bills on the calendar for voting May speak first on any bill Refers bill to relevant committee

27. Senate Leadership Senate Majority Whip Senate Majority Whip Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-IL) Richard “Dick” Durbin (D-IL)

28. Senate Leadership Senate Minority Leader Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

29. Senate Leadership Senate Minority Whip Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

30. Committees Committee – expert groups of Congressmen who decide what bills will go to the whole house for a vote Committee – expert groups of Congressmen who decide what bills will go to the whole house for a vote Most work in Congress is done in committees Most work in Congress is done in committees

31. Types of Committees Standing Committee – permanent committees that remain from session to session Standing Committee – permanent committees that remain from session to session

32. Current Standing Committees in the House of Representatives Agriculture Agriculture Appropriations Appropriations Armed Services Armed Services Budget Budget Education and the Workforce Education and the Workforce Energy and Commerce Energy and Commerce Financial Services Financial Services Government Reform Government Reform House Administration House Administration International Relations International Relations Judiciary Judiciary Resources Resources Rules Rules Science Science Small Business Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Ways and Means

33. Current Standing Committees in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Appropriations Armed Services Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Environment and Public Works Finance Finance Foreign Relations Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs Governmental Affairs Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Indian Affairs Indian Affairs Judiciary Judiciary Rules and Administration Rules and Administration Small Business Small Business Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs

34. Types of Committees Select or Special Committees – Temporary committee to investigate wrongdoing or research a special matter Select or Special Committees – Temporary committee to investigate wrongdoing or research a special matter Examples: Senate Watergate Committee, Select Committee on Aging Examples: Senate Watergate Committee, Select Committee on Aging

35. Types of Committees Joint Committees – have members of both the House and Senate Joint Committees – have members of both the House and Senate Conference Committees – compromise different versions of bills between House and Senate Conference Committees – compromise different versions of bills between House and Senate

36. How a Bill Becomes a Law For a brief overview, let’s watch a short documentary on the process For a brief overview, let’s watch a short documentary on the process

37. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 1 – The House Step 1 – The House Bill is introduced Bill is introduced Can only be introduced by a member of the House Can only be introduced by a member of the House Bill is read to the entire chamber Bill is read to the entire chamber

38. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 2 – The House Step 2 – The House Referred to a standing committee Referred to a standing committee Speaker of the House chooses the committee Speaker of the House chooses the committee Full committee decides whether to consider it, or “pidgeonhole” it Full committee decides whether to consider it, or “pidgeonhole” it

39. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 3 – The House Step 3 – The House Referred to subcommittee Referred to subcommittee Chairman of the committee decides which subcommittee Chairman of the committee decides which subcommittee Subcommittee does the vast majority of research and work on the bill Subcommittee does the vast majority of research and work on the bill 90% of bills die in steps 2 and 3 90% of bills die in steps 2 and 3

40. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 4 – The House Step 4 – The House Committee/Subcommittee Hearings Committee/Subcommittee Hearings Government officials, experts invited to speak in favor or against bills Government officials, experts invited to speak in favor or against bills Congressmen may take “junkets,” or trips to locations for further research Congressmen may take “junkets,” or trips to locations for further research Meanwhile, they “markup,” or make changes to the bill Meanwhile, they “markup,” or make changes to the bill

42. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 5 – The House Step 5 – The House Sent back to full committee Sent back to full committee Committee can either Committee can either Send the bill to step 6 with a “do pass” recommendation Send the bill to step 6 with a “do pass” recommendation Or refuse to report the bill, thus killing it Or refuse to report the bill, thus killing it Oh, no!!

43. How a Bill Becomes a Law *If the rest of Congress disagrees with a committee’s decision to kill a bill, there is one option* *If the rest of Congress disagrees with a committee’s decision to kill a bill, there is one option* Discharge Petition – majority of the House votes to pull a dead bill out of committee Discharge Petition – majority of the House votes to pull a dead bill out of committee

44. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 6 – The House Step 6 – The House Referred to Rules Committee Referred to Rules Committee Places bill on the calendar Places bill on the calendar Sets the rules for time limits and number of amendments allowed Sets the rules for time limits and number of amendments allowed If they refuse to put rules on it… If they refuse to put rules on it… Oh, no!!

45. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 7 – The House Step 7 – The House Whole House Debates Whole House Debates During debate, members can propose amendments to add onto the bill During debate, members can propose amendments to add onto the bill In the House, amendments must be relevant to the subject of the bill In the House, amendments must be relevant to the subject of the bill

46. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 8 – The House Step 8 – The House Whole House Votes Whole House Votes Majority vote passes, sends bill to the Senate Majority vote passes, sends bill to the Senate

47. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 9 – The Senate Step 9 – The Senate Introduced in the Senate Introduced in the Senate Step 10 – The Senate Step 10 – The Senate Referred to a standing committee Referred to a standing committee Senate Majority Leader chooses which committee Senate Majority Leader chooses which committee

48. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 11-12 – The Senate Step 11-12 – The Senate Same as House – referred to subcommittee, back to committee, then out to floor for debate Same as House – referred to subcommittee, back to committee, then out to floor for debate

49. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 13 – The Senate Step 13 – The Senate Whole Senate Debates Whole Senate Debates No Rules Committee, so no limits on time or amendments No Rules Committee, so no limits on time or amendments Filibuster – talking at length to stall action on a bill, can only be ended by cloture (60 votes) Filibuster – talking at length to stall action on a bill, can only be ended by cloture (60 votes) Riders – amendments that have nothing to do with a bill Riders – amendments that have nothing to do with a bill

50. This leads to…

51. In 2008 Taxpayers Paid For… $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute $211,508 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France $211,508 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France $1,117,125 to suppress Mormon crickets $1,117,125 to suppress Mormon crickets $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service (Rangel is the Congressman who got this money spent) $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service (Rangel is the Congressman who got this money spent) $98,000 to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia $98,000 to develop a walking tour of Boydton, Virginia

52. Pork Barrel Spending Generally occurs through a process called “Earmarking” Generally occurs through a process called “Earmarking” Setting aside money within an appropriations bill and “earmarking” it for a specific purpose Setting aside money within an appropriations bill and “earmarking” it for a specific purpose For some reason, doesn’t go through typical spending authorization procedures that other spending proposals go through For some reason, doesn’t go through typical spending authorization procedures that other spending proposals go through Cost taxpayers approximately $17.1 billion in 2008 Cost taxpayers approximately $17.1 billion in 2008

54. Pork Barrel Spending How congressmen “bring home the bacon” How congressmen “bring home the bacon” Shows constituents that their congressman gets “stuff” for their district or state Shows constituents that their congressman gets “stuff” for their district or state Helps congressman win reelection! Helps congressman win reelection!

55. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 14 – The Senate Step 14 – The Senate Senate votes Senate votes Step 15 – Conference Committee Step 15 – Conference Committee Members of both houses’ subcommittees that worked on the bill compromise Members of both houses’ subcommittees that worked on the bill compromise Both houses then vote again on the compromise bill Both houses then vote again on the compromise bill

56. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 16 – The President Step 16 – The President President has 3 options (maybe 4): President has 3 options (maybe 4): 1. Sign the bill, make it law 1. Sign the bill, make it law

57. How a Bill Becomes a Law Step 16 – The President Step 16 – The President President has 4 options: President has 4 options: 2. Veto the bill, explain why 2. Veto the bill, explain why Goes back to Congress, who can override with 2/3 vote in both houses Goes back to Congress, who can override with 2/3 vote in both houses

58. How a Bill Becomes a Law 3. Wait 10 days and let it become law without his signature 3. Wait 10 days and let it become law without his signature 4. (Maybe) Pocket Veto - If Congress ends its session before 10 days are up, bill dies without a veto 4. (Maybe) Pocket Veto - If Congress ends its session before 10 days are up, bill dies without a veto