28 Questions
Who controls what happens on the chamber floor in both the House and Senate?
The majority party
What is the power that the speaker of the House and the majority leader of the Senate have during floor debate?
Power of recognition
Why do members of Congress try to stay on good terms with their House and Senate leaders?
To be granted the power of recognition
What is the purpose of the power of recognition held by the speaker and majority leader?
To maintain an orderly legislative process
How are roll-call votes conducted in the Senate?
Verbally
What is the purpose of a voice vote?
To determine the louder voices
How is a roll-call vote conducted in the House of Representatives?
Through an electronic voting system
What does a vote of 'present' mean?
The member abstains
What influences do legislators consider before voting on a bill?
Views of constituents and personal convictions
What are interest groups sometimes called?
Pressure groups
How did Lyndon Johnson persuade members to support the party's public policy goal?
By using 'the treatment'
What is logrolling in the context of Congress?
Mutual support and cooperation
What does a roll-call vote in the House of Representatives record?
Each member's vote is officially recorded
What is the purpose of standing vote?
To count the number of supporters and opponents
How are roll-call votes conducted in the House of Representatives?
Through an electronic voting system
What is the role of party leaders in influencing members to support the party's public policy goal?
Expect their members to support the party’s public policy goal
What is the maximum time limit for general debate on a bill in the House?
One hour
What is the purpose of the cloture rule adopted in 1917?
To close debate and end a filibuster
What is the purpose of a filibuster in the Senate?
To block the passage of a bill
What is the role of the Senate majority leader in controlling floor debate?
Requires consent from senators to limit debate
What are the three ways to vote in Congress?
Voice vote, standing vote, and roll-call vote
What is the purpose of placing a hold on a bill in the Senate?
To delay debate and signal intention to launch a filibuster
What does the Senate pride itself on regarding debate?
Unlimited debate
What is the purpose of allowing unrelated amendments, known as riders, in the Senate?
To attach unrelated amendments to bills
What is the purpose of the Rules Committee in the House?
To limit general debate on a bill
What is the purpose of physical confrontations on the House floor being rare?
To maintain decorum and order
What is the purpose of the amendment process in the House and Senate?
To allow for different approaches to amending bills
What is the purpose of a filibuster in the legislative process?
To delay or block the passage of a bill
Study Notes
Congressional Debate and Voting Process
- The legislative process in Congress is divided into three main parts: general debate on the bill, debate and voting on amendments, and voting on final passage of the bill.
- In the House, the Rules Committee often limits general debate to one hour, with 30 minutes allocated to each of the majority and minority parties.
- House members are usually limited to one or two minutes to speak during floor debates, which are televised on C-SPAN.
- The Senate prides itself on unlimited debate, which can lead to filibusters and prolonged delays in the legislative process.
- The Senate majority leader has limited control over the legislative agenda and floor debate, requiring consent from senators to limit debate.
- Physical confrontations on the House floor are rare, with a notable historical incident occurring in 1858 over the issue of slavery.
- A filibuster involves prolonged debate or delaying tactics to block the passage of a bill, with the record for the longest single speech set at 24 hours and 18 minutes by Strom Thurmond in 1957.
- The cloture rule, adopted in 1917, requires three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 votes, to close debate and end a filibuster.
- Senators can also place a hold on bills to delay debate, signaling their intention to launch a filibuster if the bill reaches the Senate floor.
- The amendment process in the House and Senate differs, with the Senate allowing unrelated amendments, known as riders, to be attached to bills.
- Riders can be used as "sweeteners" to win more votes or as "poison pills" to ensure a bill's failure, often leading to the passage of Christmas tree bills with numerous unrelated amendments.
- There are three ways to vote in Congress: voice vote, standing vote, and roll-call vote, with only the roll-call method recording individual member votes.
Test your knowledge of the congressional debate and voting process with this quiz. Explore the differences between the House and Senate procedures, the use of filibusters and holds, and the various voting methods employed in Congress.
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