Congressional Leadership

House Senate

Speaker of the House: Elected by majority party

Vice President of the United States President Pro Tempore: Senior member of the majority party

Majority/Minority Floor Leader

Majority/Minority Floor Leader

Majority/Minority Whip Majority/Minority Whip

Congressional Committees

Standing Committees-continue from one congress to the next, unless special action is taken to eliminate them.Ex. Agriculture, BudgetMay use subcommittee

Congressional Committees

Select Committee: Appointed to study a particular problem.Ex. HUACAction is taken to eliminate them when they are no longer needed.

Congressional Committees

Joint Committee: made up of members of both chambers. Ex. Joint Committee on Taxation.

Congressional Committees

Conference Committee:appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.

How to get on a committee:

Strong ties to constituencyAsk to be appointed to committeesAppointed by committee of committeesTry to balance out the number of committees and their importanceChairmanship usually based on Seniority

How a bill becomes a lawBill is put into the hopper

Sent to Subcommittee

Sent to Full Committee

House Rules

Floor Debate

Conference Committee

Back to Full House

President

School House Rock video

Making laws

Major bills-have an impact on all people of the United StatesPork barrel-have an impact on the people in your districtEarmarks-directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects Rider-additional provision added to a bill

Congressional Influence

VotersConstituentsStaff membersCommittee ReportColleaguesReciprocal agreementsPresidentLobbyists and special interest groups

Scrambled Outline:How a House Bill Becomes a Law

If the Senate approves, then on to the President

Floor Debate before the full house

The bill is put into the hopper

House Rules Committee

Considered by Full Committee

Back to the full House for final approval

House-Senate Conference Committee

Bill is sent to the proper subcommittee

Answers to scrambled outline

The bill is put into the hopper

Bill is sent to the proper subcommittee

Considered by full committee

House rules committee

Floor debate before the full house

House-Senate Conference Committee

Back to the full House for final approval

If the Senate approves, then on to the President