Congress in Action

Chapter 12Chapter 12

I. I. Congressional leadership: Mostly party Congressional leadership: Mostly party leadershipleadership

A.A. House leadershipHouse leadership1.1.The Speaker of the HouseThe Speaker of the House

• Formal powers: Formal powers: Presides officerPresides officer committee assignmentscommittee assignments control over which bills get assigned to which control over which bills get assigned to which

committees.committees.

2.2.Floor Leader: majority leader. Rounds up votes on Floor Leader: majority leader. Rounds up votes on party legislation, schedules bills.party legislation, schedules bills.

3.3.Party whips: round up votes, reports views and Party whips: round up votes, reports views and complaints back to the leadership. complaints back to the leadership.

4.4.Minority party is also organized (minority leader Minority party is also organized (minority leader and whips) and whips)

prepared to take over if it should win a majority in the prepared to take over if it should win a majority in the House.House.

B.B. Senate leadershipSenate leadership1.1. Vice president presides over the Senate. Vice president presides over the Senate.

a.a. Little power or influence in the Senate Little power or influence in the Senate b.b. Votes only to break a tie.Votes only to break a tie.

2.2. The Senate majority leader: the position of real powerThe Senate majority leader: the position of real powera.a. Rounds up votes, schedules the floor action, and Rounds up votes, schedules the floor action, and

influences committee assignments.influences committee assignments.3.3. Majority whipsMajority whips4.4. Minority Leader and WhipsMinority Leader and Whips

C.C. Congressional caucuses: the informal Congressional caucuses: the informal organization of Congressorganization of Congress1.1.Group of members sharing some interest or Group of members sharing some interest or

characteristic (Black, Hispanic, characteristic (Black, Hispanic, Congresswomen’s). Congresswomen’s).

2.2.Strong say in the policy agenda. Strong say in the policy agenda.

II. II. The committees and subcommitteesThe committees and subcommittees

A.A. Committees dominate the legislative process.Committees dominate the legislative process.1.1.Control all policy-making.Control all policy-making.

2.2.Control the agenda.Control the agenda.

3.3.Guide legislation.Guide legislation.

B.B. Four types of committeesFour types of committees1.1.Standing: (most important) permanent subject-Standing: (most important) permanent subject-

matter.matter.

2.2.Joint: membership from both Houses. Proactive.Joint: membership from both Houses. Proactive.

3.3.Conference: reconcile differences in bills. Conference: reconcile differences in bills. Membership from both houses. Reactive.Membership from both houses. Reactive.

4.4.Select: temporary for a specific "select" purposeSelect: temporary for a specific "select" purpose

C.C. The committees at work: legislation and The committees at work: legislation and oversightoversight1.1. Share the research and development of 11,000 Share the research and development of 11,000

bills per session. bills per session.

2.2."marked up" (revised and rewritten) bills "marked up" (revised and rewritten) bills

3.3."floor managers" "floor managers"

4.4.oversight: hold executive accountable.oversight: hold executive accountable.

D.D. Getting on a committeeGetting on a committee1.1.House 2 committees and 4 subcommittees. Senate House 2 committees and 4 subcommittees. Senate

3 committees and 7 subcommittees. 3 committees and 7 subcommittees.

2.2. Request committees that are important to Request committees that are important to constituents. constituents.

3.3.Every committee includes members from both Every committee includes members from both partiesparties

4.4.A majority, as well as its chair, come from the A majority, as well as its chair, come from the majority party.majority party.

III. Bill to LawIII. Bill to LawA.A. Types of Bills and ResolutionsTypes of Bills and Resolutions

• 1. Bills —proposed laws. 1. Bills —proposed laws. Public bills - entire nationPublic bills - entire nation private - certain persons or places.private - certain persons or places.

• 2. Joint Resolutions- temporary matters - both houses, 2. Joint Resolutions- temporary matters - both houses, signed by President.signed by President.

• 3. Concurrent Resolutions —concerns of both houses - no 3. Concurrent Resolutions —concerns of both houses - no President's signature.President's signature.

• 4. Resolutions (simple) —either house - house keeping- no 4. Resolutions (simple) —either house - house keeping- no President's signature.President's signature.

• 5. Rider- a provision not likely to pass on its own - 5. Rider- a provision not likely to pass on its own - attached to an important measure.attached to an important measure.

B.B. Creating and Introducing BillsCreating and Introducing Bills

• 1.Most suggested by the executive branch. 1.Most suggested by the executive branch. a. influences on Congress. a. influences on Congress.

• 1.1. direct meetingsdirect meetings

• 2.2. liaison officersliaison officers

• 3.3. party's leadersparty's leaders

• 2. Special interest 2. Special interest

• 3. Private citizens 3. 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.

C.C. The First ReadingThe First Reading

• 1. read, numbered, short title, and recorded.1. read, numbered, short title, and recorded.

• 2. Referred to standing committee 2. Referred to standing committee

• 3. Committee hearing3. Committee hearing

• 4. Referred to sub committee4. Referred to sub committee

D.D. The Bill in CommitteeThe 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" a. Report the bill favorably to the full House with a "do pass"

recommendation.recommendation. b. Pigeonhole the bill (refuse to report)b. Pigeonhole the bill (refuse to report)

• discharge petition enables members to force a bill out of a discharge petition enables members to force a bill out of a committee pigeonhole.committee pigeonhole.

c. Report the bill in amended form.c. Report the bill in amended form. d. Report the bill unfavorably.d. Report the bill unfavorably. f. Report an entirely new bill.f. Report an entirely new bill.

E.E. Rules and CalendarsRules and Calendars• 1. Bill must be placed on one of several calendars, or schedules, for 1. Bill must be placed on one of several calendars, or schedules, for

deliberation. deliberation. • 2. Calendars: Lists of business eligible for consideration by legislative 2. Calendars: Lists of business eligible for consideration by legislative

bodies. bodies. • 3. House Rules Committee3. House Rules Committee

gives each bill a rule (approval to proceed) gives each bill a rule (approval to proceed) Establishes conditions under which a bill can be debated on the floorEstablishes 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 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 recommended by a standing committee by refusing to perform any of the above. (no discharge)the above. (no discharge)

F.F. The Bill on the FloorThe Bill on the Floor

• 1. Committee of the Whole (House sitting as a large committee of 1. Committee of the Whole (House sitting as a large committee of itself). 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. 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. 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 b. Standing vote (demanded if any member thinks the Speaker has

erred). erred). c. One-fifth of a quorum may demand a teller vote.c. One-fifth of a quorum may demand a teller vote. d. Roll-call vote (representative's position becomes matter of public d. Roll-call vote (representative's position becomes matter of public

record). record).

G.G. Final steps in the House of RepresentativesFinal steps in the House of Representatives

• 1. An approved bill is engrossed 1. 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.

H.H. Differences in Senate Bills 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 3. Senate leader controls the flow of bills to committees and floor debate/votingdebate/voting

• 4. Can set aside formal rules and look at a bill from the 4. Can set aside formal rules and look at a bill from the calendar calendar

• 6. The Filibuster 6. The Filibuster a. unlimited debate on billsa. unlimited debate on bills

• 1.1. a way to defeat a bill: keep talking until a way to defeat a bill: keep talking until majority of Senate either abandons bill or agrees to modify the majority of Senate either abandons bill or agrees to modify the most controversial aspectsmost controversial aspects

• 2.2. once a Senator has the floor, he/she can once a Senator has the floor, he/she can stand and talk stand and talk

• 3.3. after 3 hours they can talk about anything after 3 hours they can talk about anything and even read aloud from a telephone / recipe bookand even read aloud from a telephone / recipe book

b. can be stopped by a 3/5's vote for b. can be stopped by a 3/5's vote for cloturecloture (allows each senator to (allows each senator to speak for only 1 hour on legislation being debated)speak for only 1 hour on legislation being debated)

I.I. Final StepsFinal Steps1.1. Conference Committee if different versions passed Conference Committee if different versions passed

(approved by both houses)(approved by both houses)

2.2. Sent to PresidentSent to Presidenta.a. Signs Bill – Becomes Public LawSigns Bill – Becomes Public Law

b.b. Pocket Veto – Bill Expires (10 days)Pocket Veto – Bill Expires (10 days)• Can be dischargedCan be discharged

c.c. Veto – Bill FailsVeto – Bill Fails• Veto override – 2/3 vote of both houses – Becomes Public Law Veto override – 2/3 vote of both houses – Becomes Public Law