Unit V Lesson 5The Law Making Process Part V

Essential Question:• What are the institutions and

policy-making processes of the national government?

• What are the links between

the branches of the national government, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, the media, and state and local governments?

The two most powerful lawmakers in the legislative process are:

1) The Speaker of the House

and

2) The Senate Majority Leader

Senate Majority Leader

Mitch McConnell

Speaker of the House

John Boehner

Speaker of the House- The most powerful congressperson; in conjunction with the House Rules Committee decides:

1) When a bill will be voted on, 2) Which amendments are allowed during debate and 3) Time-limits during floor debate

Speaker of the House

John Boehner

How does one become Speaker of the House?

The Speaker of the House is chosen by the “Majority Party” at the beginning of each two-year session of Congress and serves in that position until his or her party loses control of the House

184 244

Majority Party = The Party with more than half of the members in a House of Congress

Minority Party = The Party NOT in the Majority (Duh)

435

Republicans

Speaker Boehner

Democrats

(218)

2010

244

Depending on party affiliation, the Speaker of the House can be the best friend or the worst enemy to the President

when it comes to enacting his or her legislative agenda

Former Speaker

Nancy Pelosi

Best Friend…

2006-2010“Majority Party”

“Obamacare”

2008233 202

“Majority Party”Every Two

Years

2010193 242

435

“Majority Party”

What Happens?

“Majority Party”“Minority Party”

Worst of Enemies

“Gridlock”2010-Present

“DividedGovernment”

Divided Government- When one political party controls the Presidency and another party controls one or both houses of

Congress (As opposed to “Unified Government”)

“Majority Party” “Majority Party”

“Divided Government”

Senate Majority Leader- The most powerful senator; helps decide 1) When a bill will be voted on and 2) Which committees senators

serve on (NOT as powerful as the Speaker of the House)

Senate Majority Leader

Mitch McConnell

“Minority Leader”

If Mitch McConnell is a Republican, who do you think is the “Majority Party” in the

Senate?

Majority Leader

5444

Majority Party Majority Party

John Boehner

Harry Reid

“Divided Government”

MitchMcConnell

The presiding officer and most powerful member of the U.S. House of Representatives

is the:

A.Vice-President

B.Majority whip

C.Majority leader

D.Speaker

In the Senate, the greatest power lies in the hands of the:

A.Speaker

B.President pro tempore

C.Vice-President

D.Majority leader

According to the U. S. Constitution, the President of the Senate is the:

A.Vice-President

B.Majority leader

C.Longest serving senator

D.Speaker of the House