congress. legislator-constituent relationships trustee follow their own judgment in voting better...

CONGRESS

LEGISLATOR-CONSTITUENTRELATIONSHIPS

Trustee Follow their own judgment in voting Better able to make the right choice

due to their professional expertise & access to information

Delegates or Agents See their vote as an expression of the

majority view of their constituents Ignore what party leaders and/or

special interest groups want

LEGISLATOR-CONSTITUENTRELATIONSHIPS

Partisan Follow the advise and direction of the party

leadership when voting They may also look to colleagues and

congressional committees for advise Politico

Mixture of all three, depending on the issue being voted on

Highly publicized=delegate Apathy or ignorance=trustee Important votes=partisan

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

SPEAKER Most influential member Presiding officer Recognized leader of party Chosen by majority party 2nd in presidential

succession Not a member of any

standing committee Votes and can enter

debate Interprets House rules Refers bills to committee Puts questions to vote Appoints members of

conference committees Announces of outcome of

votes Current-John Boehner

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

Majority and Minority leaders Elected by their parties Usually based on seniority Majority leader-Steny Hoyer Minority leader-John Boehner

Majority and Minority Whips Polls members before key votes Sends summaries of votes to members Majority whip-James Clyburn Minority whip-Roy Blunt

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

SENATE LEADERSHIP

President of the Senate Vice President Little influence Only votes in case of tie Current-Richard Cheney

President Pro Tempore Chairs the chamber then VP is absent Member of majority party-seniority 3rd in presidential succession Current-Robert Byrd

SENATE LEADERSHIP

Majority and Minority leaders Elected by their parties Usually based on seniority Has the right to be recognized first when debate

begins Majority leader-Harry Reid Minority leader-Mitch McConnell

Majority and Minority Whips Polls members before key votes Sends summaries of votes to members Also known as assistant leaders Majority whip-Richard Durbin Minority whip-Trent Lott

SENATE LEADERSHIP

COMMITTEE SYSTEM

Mini-legislatures that handle the vast volume of legislation given to each house

Legislators become specialists Usually choose a committee that is important to constituents Control the congressional agenda and guide legislation Chairs of committees-very influencial/seniority Senate

Democratic Steering Committee Committee on Committees (Republican)

Make assignments House

Same committees as Senate Final assignments come from the Executive Committee headed by

the floor leaders Division of seats

Based on the percentage of party strength in each house

TYPES OF COMMITTEES

Standing Permanent subject matter committees House

Two committees & four subcommittees Senate

Three committees & seven subcommittees Select or Special

Temporary arrangements designed to investigate an important current event issue

Joint Composed of both House and Senate members May be standing or select

Conference Formed to work out the differences when different versions of a

bill are passed Membership from both houses

INFLUENTIALCOMMITTEES

House Rules Committee Reviews all bills submitted by committee before

they go to the House floor Assigns a spot on the calendar Allocates time for debate Decides whether the bill can be amended Unique to House

House Ways and Means Committee Writes tax codes

Senate Finance Committee Writes tax codes

House and Senate Appropriations Committee Decides how government money will be distributed

to federal agencies

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

More than 20,000 bills are introduced in Congress every two years

Fewer than 10% become laws Types of Bills

Public Applicable to the entire nation

Private Apply to specific individuals

Joint Resolution Require approval by both houses and require

president’s signature Equivalent to law Used to propose constitutional amendments


Proposing a bill Majority introduced by officials in executive

departments and agencies according to presidential wishes, but also by:

Presidential supporters Interest groups Private citizens Representatives & Senators

Can be introduces in either house or simultaneously in both

Revenue (tax) bills in House


Introduction Assignment of number by clerk

HR or S 2000-2,000th bill introduced that session First Reading

Clerk titling the bill Gives short summary & description Entered into the House Journal & Congressional

Record Assigned to a committee

Second Reading During floor discussion, if it makes it out of

committee Third Reading

Just before the final vote occurs


Committee 36 standing committees 156 subcommittees Most bills killed in committee Committee chair delegates bill to subcommittee Public hearing held

Testify/media attention Actions that can be taken:

Reports favorably with a “do pass” recommendation Refuses to report/kill the bill Amend or change bill in “mark-up” efforts Report unfavorably Report a “committee bill”

Completely new bill that the subcommittee has written as a substitute for the original


Committee Standing committee usually accepts

the recommendation of the subcommittee

But can also have it’s own mark up process, add amendments, and hold hearings

If a bill receives a favorable ruling: Senate-placed on calendar for floor action House-referred to House Rules Committee


House Rules Committee Known as “traffic cop” or “gatekeeper” Allows bills to go floor at a scheduled

time for discussion, debate, & vote Sets a time limit for debate

Typically one-five minutes Open rule

Permits bill to be amended Closed rule

Forbids amendments


Discharge Petition Absolute majority of House (218) sign a petition

requesting that a bill be forced out of committee for floor consideration

In Senate, initiated through the motion of a single member

House voting Voice votes-most common; Speaker decides which

side has won Standing votes-member stand to show approval or

disapproval Teller votes-turn in a card to party leadership Roll-call votes-recorded vote; can be demanded by

1/5th of members present Computerized voting Voting over when Speaker locks system

Usually 15 minutes


Senate Debate Unrestricted May speak on any topic they chose Filibuster

Deliberately talk a bill to death May be team effort

Cloture Ends filibuster when 16 or more senators sign

a petition requesting a vote 60% of present members agree-each senator

limited to one hour of debate Senate voting

Voice, standing, and roll call votes No electronic voting board


After voting, bill read for last time, signed and page takes to next house for approval

Conference Committee Reconcile differences between the

versions of the bill No compromise-bill dies Conference report-sent to each

chamber for final vote


President Sign bill-becomes law Veto bill-returned to original house;

2/3rds vote in both houses-bill becomes law; not enough votes-bill dead

Keeps bill on desk for 10 days without signing or veto-becomes law

Pocket veto-president does not act on bill; Congress adjourns within 10 days of submission; bill dead


HOUSE Introduction Referred to

committee Referred to

subcommittee Reported by full

committee Rules committee

action Floor Action Conference

committee Final vote Sent to President

SENATE Introduction Referred to

committee Referred to

subcommittee Report by full

committee Floor action Conference

committee Final vote Sent to President

congress. legislator-constituent relationships trustee follow their own judgment in voting better...

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