The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress: The People’s BranchThe People’s Branch • The Role of Congress

• A Bicameral Legislature

• Senate vs. House

• Organization & Leadership

• The Committee System

• Lame Duck Session

Key Functions of Congress

Representation: expresses the

diverse views of the American

people

Law Making: creates bills to address

issues and solve problems in American society

Consensus Building: reconciles competing

interests

Oversight: ensures that laws passed

by Congress are effectively carried out by the executive branch

Investigation: investigates government agencies, including the

White House---impeachment

Approval: confirms

presidential appointees and treaties (Senate

Only)

“In order to control the legislative authority, you must divide it.”

James Madison, Federalist No. 51

How will this set up protect Americans from tyranny?

The House Wing

The Senate Wing

A Bicameral Legislature

House Office Buildings

Senate Office BuildingsVirtual Tour of the Senate Chamber

The Well in the House Chamber

Differences Between the House and Senate

• Two year Term• 435 members• Smaller constituencies• Less personal staff• Equal populations represented • Less flexible rules• Limited Debate• Policy Specialists• Less media coverage• Less prestige• Less reliance on staff• More powerful committee

leaders• Very important committees• Nongermane amendments

(riders) not allowed• Important Rules Committee• Some bills are not allowed to be

amended from the floor

• Six year Term• 100 members• Larger constituencies• More personal staff• States represented• More flexible rules• Extended Debate• Policy generalists• More media coverage• More prestige• More equal distribution of

power• 20 major committees• Nongermane amendments

(riders) allowed• Filibuster allowed

The House The Senate

Non Voting Members of the House 1 representative each: >>can participate in debate and on committees >>cannot vote

The District of Columbia

Puerto Rico

American Samoa

Virgin Islands

Must live in state and district

Must be 25 years or

older

Must be a U.S. citizen for at least

7 years

Term begins on January 3 and last for 2

years.

One of 435 other members of the House

The House of Representatives:Requirements

Must be elected by

the majority of people in

his/her district 650,000

people on average Compar

e to the Senate

The Senate:Requirements

Must live in state

Must be elected by the majority of registered voters living in the state

Term begins January 3rd and lasts for six years.

1 of 100 other Senators: 2/state

Must be 30 years old

Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.

Compare to the House

What do they both enjoy? Perks of the Office

Salary: $165,200/year

Free Office Space in D.C.

Free Office Space

in State Free Parking on the Hill

Office Expenses: $127,000 (House)$474,000 (Senate)

Staff Salaries: $632,000 (House)$2 million (Senate)

Several Free Trips Home

Franking Privilege: mailing “official business” (not campaign business) for free.

Full Access to the Congressional Gym and SpaFull Access to the Congressional Gym and Spa

Immunity from Lawsuits for anything you say when in Immunity from Lawsuits for anything you say when in CongressCongress

Inexpensive Health Care

Leadership in the House & Senate

How things are done in the two chambers affects what is done in the two chambers.

The House is four times as big as the Senate.

How do you think this affects how things are done?

Speaker of the House: Visit official web site. Presides over the Chamber

Decides Points of Order During Debate

Refers bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees

Schedules legislation for floor action

Appoints House members to committees

Majority Leader

Minority Leader

Majority & Minority Leaders Appointed by parties to direct strategy on the House floor

Maintains alliances to gain votes and to pass/defeat bills

Formulates the party’s legislative agenda w/Speaker

Ensures that committee chairs take action on bills

Majority Whip

Minority Whip

Majority & Minority Whips Aids the floor leader in developing & implementing party’s program

transmits information to party members

assists leaders in developing a count and a strategy for key votes

builds coalition to pass bills and amendments

gathers intelligence & uses persuasive tactics to garner more votes

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The New Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi (D), CA

Priorities :

diminish the role of lobbyists

insure that lawmakers have time to read legislation before voting on it.

open House-Senate legislative negotiating sessions to the media

make sure earmarks are identified by the name of lawmaker who sponsored it

make sure earmarks are approved by policy making committees (oversight)

New Faces in the Crowd:

House Majority Whip

James Clyburn, S.C. 6th District

Terms in Office: 7

Previous Leadership: Chair of the Democratic

House Caucus

Caucus Chairman

Rahm Emanuel, IL. 5th District

Terms in Office: 3

Previous Leadership: Chair of the Democratic Campaign Committee

House Majority Leader

Steny Hoyer, MD 5th District

Terms in Office: 12

Previous Leadership: House Minority Whip

9 members from the majority party—chosen by the Speaker

4 members from the minority party

Is the Rules Committee democratic?

Regulates floor debate

Sets limits on amendments

Influences which bills do and do not get consideration

Supports the agenda of the majority party

Click here to view a special rule for a bill.

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cVice President Is the president of the Senate

May not take part in the debate

May try to influence a vote through contact with senators

May recognize members and put questions to a vote

May vote only in the event of a tiePresident Pro Temp Presides when the vice president is not present

Usually is the most senior member of the majority partyTemporary Presiding Officer Presides when neither the vice president nor the president pro temp is present

Usually a senior member of the majority party

Majority & Minority Whips Serve the same function in the Senate as they do in the House

Democratic Whip: Senator Barbara Boxer (California)

Republican Whip: Senator Robert Bennett (Utah)

The New Majority Leader in the Senate: Harry Reid

Age: 67

Party: Democrat

Religion: Mormon

Political Experience:

Nevada State Legislature

Lieutenant Governor

Nevada Gaming Commission

House of Representatives (1982)

Senate (1986)

Minority Leader (2005)

Majority Leader: 2007Senators Durbin & Reid meet with President Bush on New Footing

New Faces in the Crowd:

Senator Specter (R) hands control of the Judiciary Committee to Senator Leahy (D).

Senator Durbin (D) is the 2nd highest ranking member of Congress.

Filibuster

Strom Thurmond

(1957) 24 hours

against civil rights

legislation

Huey Long filibustered on behalf of

the poor

Is the filibuster democratic?

We’ll debate this more in class!

A senator refuses to give up the floor in order to prevent a vote.

If 60 senators vote to end a filibuster, a vote must be held within 30 hours. (cloture)

Congressional CommitteesLetters Requesting Committee Assignments

Concern of the Congress:

Full Scope of the Bill

The Congress debates

Concern of the Committee:

The Details of the Bill

“Congress in session is Congress on display. Congress in committee is

Congress at work.” President Woodrow Wilson

Standing Committees

Select Committees Joint Committees

Authorizing Appropriations

Rules Budget

• Make laws

• Hold hearings

• Hearing Schedule

• Determines how much $ will be spent

• The Immigration Fence

• Sets the Rules

• Jurisdiction of the Senate Rules Committee

• Raises $ for appropriations to spend

• House Ways and Means Committee

• Address temporary priorities in Congress

• Senate Select Committee on Ethics

View All Committees Here: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html

• Address issues of concern to both chambers

• Joint Committee on Economics

Committee Leadership

• Control your committee’s agenda

• Schedule meetings and hearing of the full committee

• Help schedule subcommittee hearings and meetings

• Handle committee’s budget and staff

• Serve as the committee’s spokesperson

• Sit on House and Senate conference committees

• Steer your party’s legislative agenda in the Senate

If you are chosen head of a committee, you will:

Find out who’s on the new Democratic team here:

Criteria for Committee Assignments

Party Loyalty: Essentially your voting record

Seniority: Numbers of years of service on a particular committee

Geography: Vacancies tend to be filled with people from the

same states

Attitude: Civil, cooperative

& willing to compromise

Preference: Senator Landrieu serves on Energy & Natural Resources, key issues for Louisiana

Closing Questions

• What are the roles of Congress in our three branch government?

• How is Congress structured and why? How does the structure of Congress affect the way that Congress functions?

• Who has power in Congress and why?• What role do committees play? Are

they democratic?