2. Constitutional HouseSenate  435 Members (apportioned by population)  Two Year Terms  Initiates all Revenue Bills  Initiates impeachment procedures  Members chosen from local districts  Originally elected by voters  100 members (2 from each State)  Six-year terms. 1/3 rd up for reelection every 2 years  Offers Advice and Consent on many major presidential appointments  Tries Impeached officials  Ratifies Treaties  Chosen from the state as a whole  Originally elected by state legislatures (until 1913)

3. Operation HouseSenate  More Organized with formal rules  Debate limited  More partisan  Less prestige and less individual notice  Rules Committee  Sets the Calendar for the House. (Gatekeeper)  Sets the Rules for debate  Germane/Non Germane  Open/Closed  Time Limits  Less Organized  Smaller  Debate extended  More prestige and more individual attention  Fewer rules and restrictions- No Rules Committee  Gives the Senate the ability to *****Filibuster*****  Cloture ends a filibuster

4. RULES COMMITTEE  The House operates with an elaborate system to control the system to control the agenda an allot time fairly in such a large assembly.  For each major bill, the RULES COMMITTEE normally proposes a RULE for debate that includes time limitations, divides the time between the majority and minority and specifies whether amendments can be proposed.  As a result of its stricter time limits on debate, the House can usually pass legislation more quickly than the Senate.

5. FILIBUSTER- DEFINED  For legislation to reach the floor of the Senate, the body must have approved the rules of debate by Unanimous Consent Agreement- which means the entire body agrees to the rules of debate.  The Senate has the tradition of FILIBUSTER- or the use of unlimited debate as a blocking tactic.  The filibuster was initially conceived of as a way to ensure that minority opinions were heard and understood before the Senate voted on an issue.  The idea behind the filibuster was simple: As long as a senator kept talking on the floor, a bill could not move forward  In 1917, at the behest of President Wilson, the Senate adopted a procedure known as the cloture vote, which could end a filibuster. If a cloture vote is called for, a super-majority (3/5’S) of senators can force an end to debate and bring the question under consideration to an up-or-down vote.

6. Leadership HouseSenate  Speaker of the House  Most powerful person in the Legislative Branch  Head of the majority party  Majority/Minority Leader  Head of the Party in the House  Elected in Party Caucus  Foster cohesion and speaks for party  Majority/Minority Whip  Organizes the party during votes and keeps tabs on “rogue members”  Conduct polls and make sure people show up to vote  Passes down information from leadership to party members  Vice President  Constitutional Leader of the Senate  Duties? Vote to break tie  President Pro Tempore  Bangs the Gavel/ceremonial  Usually the oldest majority party member  Majority Leader  DE FACTO LEADER OF SENATE  Right to be recognized first on the floors  Minority Leader- same  Majority/Minority Whip

7. Speaker of the House  Formal powers of the Speaker:  Presiding over meetings of the House  Appointing members of joint committees and conference committees  Scheduling legislation for floor action  Deciding points of order and interpreting the rules with the advice of the House parliamentarian  Referring bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing committees of the House.  He can take part in floor debate and vote, but usually only votes to break a tie.

8. Quiz  Why are there no filibusters in the House?  Define Gerrymandering.  Who is the constitutional leader of the Senate?  What ends a filibuster?  Name 5 of the 17 powers of Congress.

9. Committee System  The INNER WORKINGS OF CONGRESS!!!!!  “The Work that takes place in the committee and subcommittee rooms of Capitol Hill is critical to the productivity and effectiveness of Congress”  Write Laws and Conduct Legislative Oversight  4 Types of Committees  Standing- the most important  Joint  Conference  Select or Special Committee

10. Committees  Standing Committees- the most important  Permanent Subject Matter Committees  Have sub committees  What are some? (see pg. 362 of your book)  Joint Committees  Includes members from both Houses of Congress  Can be permanent or temporary  Conference Committees  Reconcile Differences between House and Senate bills  No bill can be sent to the President to be signed until it has passed both houses in the same form.  Select Committees  Temporary Committees  There is a select committee on Global Warming

11. Committees Chairs  Most powerful people in Congress  Appointed by the Majority Leader of House and Senate  It used to be based on Seniority, but Newt and his Contract with America changed it from a Spoils System to a Merit System (restricted chair persons time to 6 years as chair)  Guess what party has all of the Committee Chairs?  Chairs pick and Choose what bills will be submitted to the Floor and what bills will be exiled  Regular committee members are appointed to standing committees by the Steering committee of their part.  Usually the majority party member with the longest term of continuous service would be given preference

12. Congressional Elections  Decentralized- conducted by individual state governments but they must follow constitutional rules.  House members elected every 2 nd year by popular ballot  Number of seats awarded to each state is to be determined every 10 years by the census.  Each state has at least one representative  Senators elected by popular vote after the 17 th amendment  Senators every 6 years; 1/3 of seats up for re election every 2 years.  Districts have to be equal in population- Bakker vs. Carr- one man one vote.  Only states can elect members of Congress, so territories like Guam can’t. Who can run? Can be self selected House: 25 years, citizen for 7 years, live in the state they will represent Senators: 30 years, citizen for 9 years, live in the state they will represent Usually have ties within the community- many see it as a stepping stone to a future political office, house to senator to governor or even president.

13. Campaigns and Elections  Very expensive- Senate 9.7 million, House 1.4 million  Campaign funds include direct contributions, contributions by PACS, and soft money funneled through state party committees. (Regulated by FECA and BCRA).  Most candidates for Congress win nomination through a direct primary in which party identifiers vote for them to be on the general election ticket.  Congressional candidates are always hopeful of the COATTAIL effect- when a strong presidential candidate sweeps senators and congressman into office on his coattails. (VERY LIMITED IN REALITY).  Presidents party usually loses seats in the mid term elections  The power of INCUMBENCY is a huge factor in elections.  Once members are elected they build up loyalty and are frequently reelected.  90% who run for reelection win.  They are more well known, have more access to resources and media and funds, have a record of accomplishments, the resources of Congress already