How Congress Is Organized

CH 8.3

• The constitution doesn’t tell them how to make laws

• They developed their own way of doing it– Bills are prepared in committees– Leaders oversee committee work

• Sessions normally last from Jan. 3 till October

Leadership in Congress

• House leader – Speaker of the House

• Senate leader – VP or President pro tem

• Majority party chooses

Speaker of the House

• Most powerful member of the House

• Decides the order of business & who may speak

• Appoints committee members & refers bills to the committees

• Influences which bills pass & fail

• 2nd in line to the President

President of the Senate

• VP in charge of the session

• Can’t debate

• Tie breaker

• VP normally busy to president pro tem presides

Floor Leaders

• Majority & minority leaders• Next to the Speaker they are most

important• Guide bills through congress• Work w/ committee leaders and party

members to accept compromises & trade- offs

• Whips aid leaders to get party in line & on the floor to vote

Working in Committees

• Were the work gets done

• Introducing a bill– Only a member of Congress can introduce a

bill– Drops bill in the hopper– Senators introduce the by reading it aloud– HR or S and numbered in order introduced

Standing Committees

• 16 in Senate & 20 in the House

• Each deals w/ a certain area (education, banking, etc…)

• Study a bill, hold public hearings,

• May propose changes

• Finally decide if they recommend it vote a floor vote

• Every committee has D & R members

• Chairperson from majority party– Decide which bills to study– Decide when & if committees will meet– Decide if hearings will be held

Select & Joint Committees

• Select – committee formed to deal w/ problem not covered by a standing committee.

• Joint – House & Senate work together– Usually a select committee– Conduct investigations

Conference Committees

• A temporary joint committee that tries to settle differences in a bill for a final vote in both houses.

The President’s Role

• Sign a bill into law• Ignores it for 10 day while congress in

session it becomes law• Veto it

– Send it back unsigned• 2/3 vote in both houses can override it

• Pocket veto – Hold it for 10 days until session ends so bill

dies