2. The House of Representatives

3. Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi * From California * Highest elected female official * First woman ever to control the House of Representatives

4. Who is the #2 officer in the House of Representatives? There is not one. If the Speaker must be gone, then the Majority Leader steps in for a few days.

5. Who are the other leaders of the House of Representatives? House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer –Right hand person to the Speaker –Help push through bills –Often ‘bugs’ other members in committee to get a move on. Majority Whip James Clyburn –Watchdog to see how people are planning to vote. –Persuade people to do as the party wishes.

6. House Minority Leader John Boehner House Minority Whip Eric Cantor Who are the other leaders of the House of Representatives?

7. The Senate

8. Who is the presiding officer of the Senate? The Vice President of the U.S. who has the title of “President of the Senate.” Joe Biden Can cast a vote in case of a tie. When VP is not there (most of the time) the president pro tempore takes over. He/she is elected with the President, not by the Senate.

9. Who is #2 in the Senate? President Pro-Tempore Robert C. Byrd From West Virginia Longest serving Senator in history (over 52 years uninterrupted) (59 years total in Congress) 94 years old Former member of KKK Also “Dean” of the Senate

10. Who are the other leaders in the Senate? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Makes sure people are attending meetings for his party and gets support on important bills Majority Whip Richard Durbin

11. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Develops criticisms for majority party’s bills Minority Whip Jon Kyl Who are the other leaders in the Senate?

12. In both the Senate and the House of Representatives, there are other leaders. The most important are the committee chairpersons.

13. Committees This is where all the work is done Each Congressman is a member (or chair) of several committees Some committees are more powerful/exciting than others; selection to a committee based on tenure, politics, and constituency needs Allows members to become specialists Committees

14. Powerful Committees House Rules Ways and Means (taxation, tariffs and other revenue raising legislation) Appropriations (where the money goes, how much) Senate Foreign Relations Finance (like the Ways and Means, but also deals with Social Security) Appropriations

15. Committee Chairpersons Make the important decisions: when they will meet, which bills to consider, and for how long Decide on experts & witnesses to be called/allowed Manage floor debates on bills from their committees

16. Rules Committee One of the most powerful committees Decides how and when a bill will be considered (controls flow of traffic) Can move a bill up on the Calendar Can also place a time limit on debate Louise M. Slaughter NY House: Rules Committee

17. What Committees are There? http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi- bin/committee_list.cgi?site=ctchttp://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi- bin/committee_list.cgi?site=ctc