the senate and house of representatives
DESCRIPTION
The Senate and House of Representatives. Mr. Lawrence Am. Gov’t. Structure of Congress. Bicameral Legislator A Two House Legislator The Great Compromise Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could not be ignored. Rules of the Houses. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Senate and House of Representatives
Mr. LawrenceAm. Gov’t
Structure of Congress Bicameral Legislator
A Two House Legislator The Great Compromise
Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could not be ignored
Rules of the Houses Each house issues a book of complex rules to
govern Congressional Proceedings. These rules are Developed by the Rules Committee
of each house These are the most important Committees in each
houseThe Senates Rules:• Creates an informal
atmosphere• Geared towards
allowing Senators to freely express their ideas
The House of Reps’ Rules:• Creates strict and
efficient atmosphere• Allows for the quick
movement of laws through the House of Reps
Importance of Political Parties in Congress Party Politics play a very important role in
Congress
The Parties elect their own leaders and vote along the same lines
Division between the two groups is so strong that they sit separately Democrats on the Left Republicans on the Right
Leadership in the Houses
Each House of Congress has specific leadership roles that must be filled at the start of every session of Congress
These Leaders Have Six Duties:1. Organize and Unify Party Members2. Scheduling 3. Making sure members are present for key votes4. Distributing and Collecting Information5. Keep communication between their house and
the President6. Influence Congressmen on how to vote
House of Reps. Leadership
Speaker of the House: The Head Honcho Chosen by a Caucus: Closed meeting of Majority
Party Members Member of the Majority Party Approved by the entire House of Reps after the
Caucus Duties include
Recognizes members to speak Scheduling Enforces the Rules Create Committees Communicating with the President
House of Reps. Leadership Cont.Floor Leaders
Majority and Minority Party Leaders The Leaders of their Parties on the House Floor Duties include:
Supporting the Speaker of the House Organizing Party Members
Party Whips and Deputy Whips The Assists to the Party leaders Duties Include
Drumming up support in the Parties Informing Party Members The Eyes and Ears of the Party Leaders
Kevin McCarthy
Nancy Pelosi
Senate Leaders
The Vice President The Leader of the Senate according to the
Constitution However he has no power in the Senate other then to
organize Senate discussion and break ties President Pro Tempore
Means “President for the Time Being” Usually the Longest Serving member of the Majority
Party Duties Include:
Organizing Debates Scheduling Communicating with the President
Daniel Inouye
Senate Leaders Cont.Floor Leaders Majority and Minority Party Leaders
Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps
Party Whips and Deputy Whips Fulfills many of the same roles as their
counterparts in the House of Reps
The Filibuster A Product of the Unlimited Debate rule in the
Senate
A Filibuster is when a Senator delays a vote by speaking for hours on end
Filibusters can only be Broken by a 3/5 vote of the Senate (60 members)