The Legislative Process

How Congress Works

Helping Constituents

• As a lawmaker- sponsoring bills that benefit constituents.

• Committee work- supporting the wishes of constituents through committees.

• Problem solving- case work• What: helping constituents with their problems• Who: Congressional staff• Why: to get reelected, help individuals deal with a

large federal gov., & helps to oversee the executive branch, help District/State

As a Lawmaker

• Pork Barrel Legislation- get “stuff”• Post Offices, dams, highways, etc.

• Federal Grants- gain federal projects for their District/State

• Keep Federal Projects- prevent them from leaving their District/State

Passing a Bill

• Stage One• First Reading- clerk gives the bill a number and a

title; The Speaker sends it to a committee

• Committee- most work is done in subcommittee• Recommends bill be passed• Pigeonhole set bill aside & ignore it• report an amended bill

Calendars

• House• Union-revenue & appropriations• House- all other public bills• Private- for leadership• Consent- minor bills which there is little opposition• Discharge- discharge bill from committee

• Senate• General Orders• Executive

Stage Two

• Floor Action• Quorum- minimum number of members

required to carry on official business• House Committee of the Whole- 100• House of Representatives- 218• Senate- 51

Rules for Debate

• House Rules Committee• Designed for the whole• Open- allows longer time & non-germane

amending• Closed- strict time & little to no amending• Modified- allows only germane amending

• Germane amending- an amendment must be directly relevant to the bill.

Debate in the Senate

• Designed for the individual

• Unlimited debate time

• Filibuster- talking a bill to death

• Cloture- 3/5s vote to limit debate

Stage Three

• Both houses must pass identical versions of the bill

• Conference Committee- made up of members from both houses to compromise 2 versions of a bill

Presidential Action

• Sign (bill becomes law)• Allow it to become law without signature in 10

days• Veto• Pocket Veto- if Congress adjourns before the 10

days• Congress may override a veto with 2/3s vote

The Organization of Congress: Committees

• Legislative Committee- most important feature of Congress• Consider bills or legislative proposals (it’s

estimated that only 6% of the bills introduced in Congress are ever reported by a committee for floor action).

• Maintain oversight of executive agencies• Conduct investigations

Types of Committees

• Standing committees- permanent bodies with specific legislative responsibilities(19 in House; 17 in Senate)

• Select Committees- groups appointed for a limited purpose & limited duration (Organized Crime, Terrorism)

• Joint Committees- those on which both representatives & senators serve• Conference Committee- a joint committee appointed to

resolve differences in Senate & House versions of the same piece of legislation before final passage.

Committee Practices

• Majority party has the majority of seats on the committee

• Each member usually serves on 2 standing committees, but• House members usually serve on 1

exclusive committee• Senators receive 2 major & 1 minor

committee assignments

Committee Practices (cont)

• Seniority Rule- the most important posts will be held by “ranking members”

• Committee Chairmen/women- ranking members of the majority party who decides when the committee will meet, which bills they will hear, & guides the passages of bills from his/her committee