1. Congress in Action
U3, C12

2. LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS
HOUSE
SENATE
Presiding Officer and Party Leader
Presiding Officers
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Party Officers
Party Officers
Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader
Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader
Majority Whip
Minority Whip
Majority Whip
Minority Whip

3. Leadership in Congress: House of Representatives
Leadership Position
Current Leader
Roles/Responsibilities
Speaker of the House
Represents his/her district
Leader of the majority party
Leader of the House
House Majority Leader
Schedule legislation for the floor
Plan the agenda
Work to advance the goals of the majority party
House Majority Whip
Counts votes
Whips up supports for democratic legislation
Keeps members focused on party mission
House Minority Leader
Traditional role
Campaign for own party
House Minority Whip
Manages his or her party’s legislative program on the floor
Keeps track of legislation; Attendance

4. Leadership in Congress: Senate
Leadership Position
Current Leader
Roles/Responsibilities
President of the Senate
Vote if there is a tie
Ceremonial Position
President Pro Tempore
President if the Vice President is not there
Honorary position; most senior member of the majority party
Senate Majority Leader
Real power; schedules legislation; consult with minority leader about getting bills through Congress - compromise
Senate Minority Leader
Schedules legislation with majority leader; compromise
Senate Majority Whip
Keeps track of vote count; rallies support for legislation on the floor
Senate Minority Whip
Assist minority leader in coordinating votes of minority party on issues

5. Committee Organization
Committee Chairs
Committee Assignments
Those members who head the standing committees in each chamber
Chosen from majority party by majority party caucus
Decide when committee meet, which bills take up, whether to hold public hearings, witnesses the committee should call
Seniority rule: most important posts held by those party members with longest records of service
Criticisms
Seniority rule applied closely in each house when it elects members of each committee
Formally elected by floor vote
Majority party always holds a majority of the seats
Standing committees divided into subcommittees to handle workload

6. COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS
Committee Type
Description/Duties
Example
Standing Committee
Permanent committee
Agriculture
War Relations
House Rules Committee
Set rules for debate
Select Committees
To address temporary issues/policies
Steroids in Baseball
Assassination of JFK
Joint Committees
Members of both houses
Address particular issues
Economic
Printing
Taxation
Conference Committees
Temporary committee
Settles differences between House and Senate versions of the bill

7. The Initial Steps
Bill: proposed law presented to House or Senate for consideration
Origins: members of Congress, Executive Branch, interest groups, private citizens, standing committees
Types of Bills and Resolutions
Public bill: measures applying to nation as a whole
Private bill: measures that apply to certain persons or places rather than entire nation
Joint resolutions: when passed, force of law; deal with unusual or temporary matters; propose constitutional amendments
Concurrent resolutions: deal with matters in which House and Senate must act jointly; do not have force of law; do not require President’s signature
Resolutions: deal with matters concerning either house alone and are taken up only by that house; does not have force of law; does not require President signature
Rider: attached to bill or resolution, deals with unrelated matter; unlikely to pass on own merit and attached to important measure certain to pass

8. School House Rock – “I’m Just a Bill”
How a Bill Becomes a Law
School House Rock – “I’m Just a Bill”