CONGRESS: STRUCTURE & ORGANIZATION

Unit 3 Part 3

PARTY LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION

The Formal Leadership◦Congress is organized by party. ◦Control the official positions of power. ◦Party leaders influence decisions regarding public issues.

Leadership in House◦Speaker of the House◦Official leader of the majority party in the House. Duties include…◦Presiding over meetings of the House◦Appointing members of joint and conference committees. ◦Scheduling legislation for floor action. ◦Deciding points of order and interpreting rules with advice from parliamentarian. ◦Referring bills and resolutions to standing committees◦Take part in floor debate and vote.

Leadership in House◦Majority Leader◦Elected by caucus of party members to act as spokesperson.◦Influences scheduling of debate◦Chief supporter of Speaker

Majority Leader of the United States House of

Representatives

IncumbentKevin McCarthy

(Republican Leader)since August 1, 2014

Leadership in the House◦The Minority Leader◦Nominated for Speaker by minority party. ◦Duties are the same as the majority leader. ◦Speak on behalf of the president if they are of the same party.

Leadership of House◦Whips◦Assistants to majority and minority leaders. ◦Passing information from leadership to members. ◦Ensure that members show up for floor debate and vote. ◦Conduct polling about views on major pieces of legislation◦Inform leaders who is doubtful, who is certain◦May pressure member to support leadership.

Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives

IncumbentSteve Scalise

(Republican Whip)since August 1, 2014

Leadership in Senate◦President of Senate◦Ceremonial in nature◦Vice-President of US◦Can break a tie◦Rarely there.

Leadership in Senate◦President Pro Tempore◦Presides over Senate when VP is absent. ◦Member of majority party with longest continuous term of service. ◦Mostly ceremonial◦Junior Senators actually presides over it.

President Pro Tempore of

the United States Senate

IncumbentPatrick Leahy

since December 17, 2012

Leadership in Senate◦Majority/Minority Floor Leader◦Real power. ◦Right to be recognized first in debate. ◦Control the scheduling of debate on floor w/ Policy Committee◦Influence allocation of committee assignments◦Influence the selection of party officials. ◦Liaison with WH, try and cooperate with committee chairperson, facilitate the smooth functioning of the Senate.

Leadership of Senate◦Senate Party Whips◦Maintain communication within party on positions. ◦Ensure party colleagues are present for floor debate and important votes.

Minority Whip of theU.S. Senate

(Republican Whip)

IncumbentJohn Cornyn

since January 3, 2013

THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM: THE CORE

OF CONGRESS

The Committee Structure◦Most work of Congress happens in committees and sub-committees. ◦Provides for specialization◦Flow of legislation determined by the speed of the committee

Power of Committees◦AKA “Little Legislatures”, committees have the final say on pieces of legislation. ◦Chairpersons: schedule hearings, formal action. ◦Decide on which subcommittee gets the bill.

Types of Committees◦Standing Committees: permanent bodies that are established by the rules of Congress◦Most of them create subcommittees to do their work. ◦Given a specific legislative jurisdiction. ◦Each House member serves on 2◦Unless they are on the Appropriations, Rules, Ways and Means

◦Each Senator may serve on 2 major, 1 minor (Rules and Administration, Veteran’s Affairs)

House Standing CommitteesAgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation & WorkforceEnergy & CommerceFinancial ServicesOversight & Government Reform

House Admin.Foreign Affairs

JudiciaryHomeland SecurityNatural ResourcesRulesScience, Space, & Technology

Small BusinessStandards of Official ConductTransportation & Infrastructure

Veterans AffairsWays & Means

Senate Standing CommitteesAgriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry

AppropriationsArmed ServicesBanking, Housing, & Urban Affairs

BudgetCommerce, Science, Transportation

Energy & Natural ResourcesEnvironment and Public Works

FinanceForeign RelationsGovernmental AffairsHealth, Education, Labor & Pensions

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

JudiciaryRules and AdministrationSmall Business and Entrepreneurship

Veterans Affairs

Types of Committees continued…◦Select Committees: Limited time, specific purpose. Generally no new legislation. ◦EX: Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

◦Joint Committees: both chambers, can be permanent or temporary. ◦EX: Economic, on the Library, on Printing, on Taxation.

Types of Committees continued…◦Conference Committees: special type of joint. Form the agreement between H and S on bills. ◦House Rules Committee: has “gate keeping” power over the terms on which legislation reaches the floor. ◦Sets time limit on debate, determines whether and how a bill can be amended. ◦Party membership is disproportionate.

Selection of Committee Members◦House◦Appointed to standing committees by Steering Committee of their party. ◦Seniority system to decide chairperson. ◦Continuous service to a standing committee or people in leadership roles.

CONGRESSIONAL STAFF

Responsibilities◦Handling constituency requests◦Formulating & drafting proposals◦Organizing hearings◦Dealing with administrative agencies◦Negotiating with lobbyists

3 Staff Agencies◦Congressional Research Service: performs research for MCs◦Government Accountability Office: investigates financial & administrative affairs of agencies◦Congressional Budget Office: assesses economic implications & costs of proposed federal programs

CAUCUSES: INFORMAL

ORGANIZATION

Legislative Service Organizations◦Group of Senators or Representative who share certain opinions, interests, or social characteristics◦E.g. Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus

HOW CONGRESS DECIDES

How A Bill Becomes a Lawhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otbml6WIQPo

How a bill becomes a law

Unorthodox Procedures◦Nuclear Option◦May 2005 by Senate Majority Leader (Bill Frist)◦To end debate and get around filibuster

The Distributive Tendency in Congress◦Building the super-majority coalitions in Congress necessary to pass legislation leads to a distributive tendency in legislation.◦This means that bills are frequently designed so as to distribute policy benefits as widely as possible.

Logrolling◦Logrolling means exchanging votes for favors.◦“I’ll vote for your bill if you vote for my bill.”

Representative

Colleagues

Constituents Staff

CaucusesParty & President

Interest Groups

Political Action Committees

How Members Make Decisions

How Members Decide

◦Constituency: Members care about what constituents will think on Election Day.◦Interest Groups: Groups educate the public, mobilize constituents, and make campaign donations.◦Party Voting: Members listen to party leaders more today than they did 50 years ago.

Party Unity on the Rise

Widening Ideological Gap Between Parties in Congress

Causes of Increasing Partisanship in Congress◦Greater power for party leaders:◦committee assignments◦access to the floor◦the whip system◦Logrolling◦increasing power and visibility for the president

◦gerrymandering