congress: structure & organization unit 3 part 3
DESCRIPTION
The Formal Leadership ◦ Congress is organized by party. ◦ Control the official positions of power. ◦ Party leaders influence decisions regarding public issues.TRANSCRIPT
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CONGRESS: STRUCTURE & ORGANIZATION
Unit 3 Part 3
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PARTY LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION
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The Formal Leadership◦Congress is organized by party. ◦Control the official positions of power. ◦Party leaders influence decisions regarding public issues.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives
IncumbentSteve Scalise
(Republican Whip)since August 1, 2014
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Leadership in Senate◦President of Senate◦Ceremonial in nature◦Vice-President of US◦Can break a tie◦Rarely there.
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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
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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.
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Leadership of Senate◦Senate Party Whips◦Maintain communication within party on positions. ◦Ensure party colleagues are present for floor debate and important votes.
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Minority Whip of theU.S. Senate
(Republican Whip)
IncumbentJohn Cornyn
since January 3, 2013
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THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM: THE CORE
OF CONGRESS
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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
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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.
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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)
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CONGRESSIONAL STAFF
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Responsibilities◦Handling constituency requests◦Formulating & drafting proposals◦Organizing hearings◦Dealing with administrative agencies◦Negotiating with lobbyists
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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
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CAUCUSES: INFORMAL
ORGANIZATION
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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
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HOW CONGRESS DECIDES
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How A Bill Becomes a Lawhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otbml6WIQPo
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How a bill becomes a law
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Unorthodox Procedures◦Nuclear Option◦May 2005 by Senate Majority Leader (Bill Frist)◦To end debate and get around filibuster
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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.
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Logrolling◦Logrolling means exchanging votes for favors.◦“I’ll vote for your bill if you vote for my bill.”
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Representative
Colleagues
Constituents Staff
CaucusesParty & President
Interest Groups
Political Action Committees
How Members Make Decisions
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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.
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Party Unity on the Rise
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Widening Ideological Gap Between Parties in Congress
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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