Congressional Organization and Leadership

Congressional Organization

• Congressional procedures aren't explicitly detailed in the Constitution; each chamber develops its own rules.
• Political parties play a crucial role in shaping legislative agendas, electing leaders, assigning members to committees, and influencing public perception.
• Party unity in voting has been increasing.

House Leadership

• The House, with 435 members, relies heavily on formal structures and leadership.
• The Speaker of the House, elected by members, holds significant power.
• The Speaker's authority is supported by the majority leader and whips.
• Whips gather voting information and encourage party members to support key legislation.
• The minority leader has less influence, coordinating opposition strategies.

Senate Leadership

• The Constitution designates the Vice President as the Senate's official leader.
• The President pro tempore presides when the VP is absent—a common occurrence.
• The most powerful position is the Senate majority leader, chosen from the majority party.
• Senators typically wield more individual power compared to House members, but the Senate majority leader has less power than the House Speaker.

Committee System

• Most Congressional work occurs in committees, which are organized by policy area.
• Committee membership reflects the party ratio in each chamber.
• Committee chairs hold significant influence, especially in setting agendas.
• House committees have more members per committee, while each senator generally serves on more committees.
• Committee assignments (and committee chairmanships) involve considerable fundraising and are associated with substantial financial contributions.

Types of Committees

• Standing committees are permanent divisions focused on specific policy areas.
• They often have subcommittees for specialized work.
• Joint committees involve members from both chambers to address issues or expedite legislative processes.
• Conference committees are temporary joint committees resolving differences between House and Senate versions of bills.
• Select or special committees are temporary bodies investigating specific issues, often in response to crises.

Congressional Staff and Bureaucracy

• Congressional staff support members by managing casework, providing policy information, and drafting legislation.
• The complexity of issues and the growing size of the nation have led to increased staff sizes.

Norms of Behavior

• Unwritten norms govern member behavior, emphasizing respect, reciprocal assistance, and policy specialization.
• Increasing political animosity between parties challenges traditional norms and complicates compromise efforts in Congress.