Aim: How does Congress Organize?

Opening Day of the House of

Representatives New term begins January 3rd of every odd year. All 435 members are sworn in on the same day. The Speaker of the House is elected and sworn

in and then the Speaker swears in the remaining members.

Rules of operation are passed. Committee members and leaders are then

chosen. The House of Representatives then goes to

work…

Opening Day of the Senate

New term begins on January 3rd of every odd year.

The Senate is a continuous body. New members and reelected members are sworn in.

Leadership is voted on and committees are adjusted for new members.

The Senate then goes back to work virtually from where it left off…

Congressional Leadership

House of Representatives› Speaker of the

House› Majority Floor

Leader› Minority Floor

Leader› Majority Whip› Minority Whip

Senate› President of the

Senate› President Pro

Tempore› Majority Floor

Leader› Minority Floor

Leader› Majority Whip› Minority Whip

Standing Committees of Congress

All bill proposals go through on the standing committees.

› The House has 20 standing committees with 10 to 75 members on each. Every Representative serves on 1 or 2 committees.

› The Senate has 16 standing committees with 14 to 28 members on each. Every Senator serves on 3 or 4 committees.

House Standing Committees

Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and

Workforce Energy and

Commerce Financial Services Government Reform Homeland Security House Administration

International Relations Judiciary Resources Rules Science Small Business Standards and Official

Conduct Transportation and

Infrastructure Veteran's Affairs Ways and Means

Senate Standing Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and

Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science

and Transportation Energy and Natural

Resources Environment and

Public Work

Finance Foreign Relations Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs

Judiciary Health, Education,

Labor, and Pensions Rules and

Administration Small Business and

Entrepreneurship Veteran's Affairs

The Four Joint Committees of Congress

Joint Committees are committees composed of members from both houses who come together to avoid duplication of work.› Economic› The Library of Congress› Printing› Taxation