1. Congress in Action Chapter 12

2. I. Congressional leadership: Mostly party leadership A. House leadership 1.The Speaker of the House Formal powers:Formal powers:  Presides officer  committee assignments  control over which bills get assigned to which committees.

3. 2.Floor Leader: majority leader. Rounds up votes on party legislation, schedules bills. 3.Party whips: round up votes, reports views and complaints back to the leadership. 4.Minority party is also organized (minority leader and whips)  prepared to take over if it should win a majority in the House.

4. B. Senate leadership 1.Vice president presides over the Senate. a. Little power or influence in the Senate b. Votes only to break a tie. 2.The Senate majority leader: the position of real power a. Rounds up votes, schedules the floor action, and influences committee assignments. 3.Majority whips 4.Minority Leader and Whips

5. C. Congressional caucuses: the informal organization of Congress 1.Group of members sharing some interest or characteristic (Black, Hispanic, Congresswomen’s). 2.Strong say in the policy agenda.

6. II. The committees and subcommittees A. Committees dominate the legislative process. 1.Control all policy-making. 2.Control the agenda. 3.Guide legislation.

7. B. Four types of committees 1.Standing: (most important) permanent subject- matter. 2.Joint: membership from both Houses. Proactive. 3.Conference: reconcile differences in bills. Membership from both houses. Reactive. 4.Select: temporary for a specific "select" purpose

8. C. The committees at work: legislation and oversight 1. Share the research and development of 11,000 bills per session. 2."marked up" (revised and rewritten) bills 3."floor managers" 4.oversight: hold executive accountable.

9. D. Getting on a committee 1.House 2 committees and 4 subcommittees. Senate 3 committees and 7 subcommittees. 2. Request committees that are important to constituents. 3.Every committee includes members from both parties 4.A majority, as well as its chair, come from the majority party.

10. III. Bill to Law  A. Types of Bills and Resolutions 1. Bills —proposed laws.1. Bills —proposed laws.  Public bills - entire nation  private - certain persons or places. 2. Joint Resolutions- temporary matters - both houses, signed by President.2. Joint Resolutions- temporary matters - both houses, signed by President. 3. Concurrent Resolutions —concerns of both houses - no President's signature.3. Concurrent Resolutions —concerns of both houses - no President's signature. 4. Resolutions (simple) —either house - house keeping- no President's signature.4. Resolutions (simple) —either house - house keeping- no President's signature. 5. Rider- a provision not likely to pass on its own - attached to an important measure.5. Rider- a provision not likely to pass on its own - attached to an important measure.

11.  B. Creating and Introducing Bills 1.Most suggested by the executive branch.1.Most suggested by the executive branch.  a. influences on Congress. 1.direct meetings1.direct meetings 2.liaison officers2.liaison officers 3.party's leaders3.party's leaders 2. Special interest2. Special interest 3. Private citizens3. Private citizens 4. Revenue-raising bills must begin in the House4. Revenue-raising bills must begin in the House 5. All other bills may be introduced in either chamber.5. All other bills may be introduced in either chamber.

12.  C.The First Reading 1. read, numbered, short title, and recorded.1. read, numbered, short title, and recorded. 2. Referred to standing committee2. Referred to standing committee 3. Committee hearing3. Committee hearing 4. Referred to sub committee4. Referred to sub committee

13.  D.The Bill in Committee 1. Most work done in subcommittees.1. Most work done in subcommittees. 2. Subcommittees complete their work - returns to the full committee.2. Subcommittees complete their work - returns to the full committee. 3. Committee options:3. Committee options:  a. Report the bill favorably to the full House with a "do pass" recommendation.  b. Pigeonhole the bill (refuse to report) discharge petition enables members to force a bill out of a committee pigeonhole.discharge petition enables members to force a bill out of a committee pigeonhole.  c. Report the bill in amended form.  d. Report the bill unfavorably.  f. Report an entirely new bill.

14.  E.Rules and Calendars 1. Bill must be placed on one of several calendars, or schedules, for deliberation.1. Bill must be placed on one of several calendars, or schedules, for deliberation. 2. Calendars: Lists of business eligible for consideration by legislative bodies.2. Calendars: Lists of business eligible for consideration by legislative bodies. 3. House Rules Committee3. House Rules Committee  gives each bill a rule (approval to proceed)  Establishes conditions under which a bill can be debated on the floor 4. The House Rules Committee can kill a bill even after it has been recommended by a standing committee by refusing to perform any of the above. (no discharge)4. The House Rules Committee can kill a bill even after it has been recommended by a standing committee by refusing to perform any of the above. (no discharge)

15.  F.The Bill on the Floor 1. Committee of the Whole (House sitting as a large committee of itself).1. Committee of the Whole (House sitting as a large committee of itself). 2. Debate — strict rules limit the length of each individual's debate.2. Debate — strict rules limit the length of each individual's debate. 3. Voting— a bill requires formal House vote.3. Voting— a bill requires formal House vote.  A quorum (majority of the full membership) is necessary. 4. Floor vote may be taken by:4. Floor vote may be taken by:  a. Voice votes are the most common. Voice vote: members shout "aye" or "no" - chair decidesVoice vote: members shout "aye" or "no" - chair decides  b. Standing vote (demanded if any member thinks the Speaker has erred).  c. One-fifth of a quorum may demand a teller vote.  d. Roll-call vote (representative's position becomes matter of public record).

16.  G.Final steps in the House of Representatives 1. An approved bill is engrossed1. An approved bill is engrossed 2. Read third time, voted on again, and signed by the Speaker.2. Read third time, voted on again, and signed by the Speaker. 3. Sent to the Senate president.3. Sent to the Senate president.

19.  H.Differences in Senate Bills 1. more informal than House1. more informal than House 2. does not have a committee equivalent to House Rules2. does not have a committee equivalent to House Rules 3. Senate leader controls the flow of bills to committees and floor debate/voting3. Senate leader controls the flow of bills to committees and floor debate/voting 4. Can set aside formal rules and look at a bill from the calendar4. Can set aside formal rules and look at a bill from the calendar

20. 6. The Filibuster6. The Filibuster  a. unlimited debate on bills 1.a way to defeat a bill: keep talking until majority of Senate either abandons bill or agrees to modify the most controversial aspects1.a way to defeat a bill: keep talking until majority of Senate either abandons bill or agrees to modify the most controversial aspects 2.once a Senator has the floor, he/she can stand and talk2.once a Senator has the floor, he/she can stand and talk 3.after 3 hours they can talk about anything and even read aloud from a telephone / recipe book3.after 3 hours they can talk about anything and even read aloud from a telephone / recipe book  b. can be stopped by a 3/5's vote for cloture (allows each senator to speak for only 1 hour on legislation being debated)

21. I. Final Steps 1.Conference Committee if different versions passed (approved by both houses) 2.Sent to President a.Signs Bill – Becomes Public Law b.Pocket Veto – Bill Expires (10 days) Can be dischargedCan be discharged c.Veto – Bill Fails Veto override – 2/3 vote of both houses – Becomes Public LawVeto override – 2/3 vote of both houses – Becomes Public Law