1. Chapter 12- Congress in Action

2. Section 1- Congress Organizes
Some 30,000 people work for the legislative branch
On the first day of a new term, Congress sets the rules and organization.
The Clerk of the House in the preceding term presides, or chairs at the beginning of the 1st session.
Roll call is then called, and then a Speaker is chosen

3. The Speaker of the House is chosen by the majority party’s members beforehand.
The Democrats sit to the right of the center aisle, the Republicans to the left ( from the Speaker’s stand)
There are 20 Permanent Committees of the House

4. Senate Organization
One third of the Senate seats are up for election every two years.
Therefore, the first day of the new term does not require as much organizational work the first day

5. State of the Union
The State of the Union is delivered each January, by the President to a joint session of Congress.
The President lays out the policies that his administration will follow.

6. Presiding Officers Speaker of the House
Elected presiding officer of the House, and the acknowledged leader of his/her party.
2 duties
Preside and keep order
Interprets and applies the House rules, rules on outcomes of votes, refers bills to committees etc.
- Names all members of select and conference committees,
- Signs all bills and resolutions passed by the house

7. The Speaker of the House can vote and debate on any matter
Must vote to break a tie
The Speaker follows the V.P. in terms of Presidental Succession
President of the Senate
The Vice President is the President of the Senate
- Is not chosen, and not a member of the Senate

8. President Pro Tempore- Serves in the V.P.’s absence
The V.P. cannot take the floor to speak or debate, and can only vote to break a tie.
President Pro Tempore- Serves in the V.P.’s absence
A leading member of the majority party, usually the longest serving

9. Party Officers
Party Caucus- A closed meeting of the memebers of each party in each house.
Deals with matters of party organization, selects floor leaders.
Policy Committees act as executive committees for the caucuses
Floor Leaders-
Are party officers and legislative strategists.
- Try to steer floor action to their party’s benefit.

10. Whips- Assistant floor leaders for each party.
Serve as a liaison between the leadership and party members.
They make sure that votes are tallied, and see members are present for important votes
They also make sure nonvotes cancel each other out.
Committee Chairmen
- Head standing committees in each chamber
-decide when committees will meet, which bills they take up, etc.

11. Seniority Rule
Unwritten custom stating that most important positions are led by those party members who have the longest record of service.

12. Section 2- Committees In Congress
Standing Committees- Permanent panels to which bills are sent.
There are 20 in the House, and 16 in the Senate.
The fate of most bills is decided in these committees
Most handles bills dealing with certain policy matters, such as Veteran’s Affairs, Science etc.

13. - When a bill is introduced in either house, it is usually referred to the appropriate standing committee
Memebers of each committee are formally elected at the beginning of each term
Majority party always holds a majority of the seats on each standing committee
Most standing committees are divided into subcommittees, with each responsible for a slice of the work

14. Select Committees
Set up for a specific purpose, and for a limited time.
Most are formed to investigate a current matter
Can also investigate to focus public attention on an issue

15. Joint & Conference Committees
Joint Committee
Made up of members of both houses
Conference Committee
- A temporary joint body that is formed to iron out differences in a bill that has different versions passed in the House and the Senate.

16. Section 3- How a Bill Becomes a Law- The House
Bill- A proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.
Most bills originate from the executive branch or from interest groups and other sources.

17. Types of Bills & Resolutions
1. Public Bills- Measures that apply to the nation as a whole
2. Private Bills- Measures that apply to certain persons or places.
Resolutions
Joint Resolutions- Deal with unusal or temporary manners. Have the force of law when passed

18. 2. Concurrent Resolutions- Deal with matters in which the House and Senate must act jointly.
DO NOT have the force of law, and do not require the President’s signature.
3. Resolutions- Deal with matters concerning either house alone, and are only taken up by that house.
-reguarly used for things such as the adoption of a new rule or procedure

19. Rider- A provision not likely to pass that is tacked on to an important measure that is certain to pass.

20. Process
- the 1st reading of the bill take place. The bill is read by the clerk of the House, and is given a title and is put in official records.
2nd reading takes place during floor consideration
3rd reading takes places just before the final vote
This system exists to allow for careful consideration of the bill

21. After the 1st reading, the bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee by the Speaker
Many bills are pigeonholed, or die in committee, never to be acted upon
Some bills are buried on purpose, and can be pulled out via a discharge petition.

22. Committee Actions ( what they do with bills)
1. Report the bill with a “do pass” recconmendation. Chairman then steers floor debate
2. Refuse to report the bill.
3. Report the bill in amended form.
4. Report with unfavorable reccomendation
5. Report a Committee Bill ( entirely new bill)

23. One The Floor If the bill reaches the floor, it gets a 2nd reading
Quorum- Majority of the full membership ( 218) must be present for the House to do business
Debate
1. cannot hold the floor for more than an hour w/o. unanimous consent
2. Stray from subject = give up the floor

24. Voting Votes must be taken on each amendment as well as motions
4 methods for floor vote:
1. Voice vote
2. Standing vote
3. 1/5 for a teller vote
4. Role call vote
Most voting done today is by electronic method

25. Section 4- Bill in the Senate
Bills are introduced by Senators
Debate is different in the Senate
Floor debate is unrestrained in the Senate
Senators may speak on the floor as long as they please
Can speak on any measure
No Senator may speak more than twice on a given question in the same legislative day

26. By recessing, or interrupting the day’s session, the Senate can prolong a “ legislative day” indefinitley

27. Filibuster To talk a bill to death
A stalling tactic used to delay or prevent Senate action on a measure
The record is by Senator Strom Thurmond
24 hr. 18 min. to attempt to stop the Civil Rights Act of 1957

28. Cloture Rule Enacted in 1917 after 2 senators filibustered for 3 weeks
Cloture means to limit debate
It can only be brought in by a special procedure
Vote must be taken 2 days after action is called for
If 3/5 of Senators vote for it, it becomes effective, and no more than 30 hours can be spent on the measure before final vote

29. Cloture hesitation 1. Dedication to Senate tradition of free debate
2. Worry that fequent use of cloture will undercut the value of filibusters

30. Presidential Action
Once a bill is passed through Congress, it is sent to the President, who has 4 options:
1. Sign the bill into law
2. Veto or refuse to sign the bill, upon which, it goes back to the House it originated with the President’s objections
Veto may be overruled by a 2/3 vote of full membership of each house

31. 3. President can choose not to act on a bill within 10 days, therefore, allowing for it to become law
4. Pocket Veto- Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting the bill, and the President doesn’t act on it.