Organization of Congress PDF

CONGRESS  I. CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Pictured: Capitol Building or Capitol Hill, home of the U.S. Congress HOUSE OF SENATE REPRESENTATIVES Congress...

CONGRESS  I. CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Pictured: Capitol Building or Capitol Hill, home of the U.S. Congress HOUSE OF SENATE REPRESENTATIVES Congress Congressional Terms Bicameral - two houses Begin Jan 3, of odd yrs. 1 Senate - 2 year terms 2 House of Legislature - Pres can call special session  II. THE HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE 90 PERCENT OF ALL REPRESENTATIVES ARE REELECTED e Q u a l i f i c a t io n s H o us - 25 yrs old - citizen for 7 years - resident of state from - Elected 2 year terms - Elected Nov. of even-numbered years - 2016, 2018… - 435 representatives total  II. THE HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE Repre se nt a ti o n - elected from different voter districts of the state - census every 10 yrs - reapportionment - redistribution of representatives based on a state’s population  II. THE HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE Redi s t r i c ti n g process of setting up new district boundary lines are drawn - gerrymandering - manipulating district boundaries to favor 1 political party  II. THE HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE Red i s tr i c t i n g process of setting up new district boundary lines are drawn - gerrymandering - manipulating district boundaries to favor 1 political party  II. THE SENATE - 2per STATE e Q ua l i f i ca t i on s S e n a t - 30 years old - citizen for 9 yrs - resident of state from - All voters of the state elect senators - 6 yr terms - elections during even-numbered yrs  II. THE SENATE - 2per STATE Y & B E N E F ITS S A L AR - 27th Amendment Congress can’t give itself a raise - raise effective after next TYPICALLY, SENATORS election AND REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN WHITE, - Franklin Privilege free postage MIDDLE-AGED MALES. - pensions up to $150,000 - can’t be sued for words on NEARLY 1/2 floor THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS - Censure formal complaint ARE of its own members - 2/3 vote to expel members LAWYERS  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  II. RULES FOR LAWMAKING m it t e e Wo r k Com - Most work is done in committees - work done for constituents - people in district whom are represented by a Congressional Hearing in 2002, talking about the importance of music education. congressman Elmo testifying, "when Elmo goes to school, there will be the instruments to play." Elmo's appearance was so serious, he attempted to eat the microphone.  II. RULES FOR LAWMAKING President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union speech to members of Congress and government leaders in the House chambers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Jan. 25, 2011 Party A ff il i a t i o n - Republicans sit on the right side of the chamber - Dems sit on the left - majority party: 1. selects the leaders 2. controls lawmaking  III. HOUSE LEADERSHIP f th e H o u s e Speaker o - most powerful leader - chosen from a caucus (closed meeting) of majority party - follows VP in succession to presidency Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson(R)  III. HOUSE LEADERSHIP o r L e a der s House Flo Majority Leader - plans party’s law making - steers bills - elected by majority party Majority Whip - tracks votes Minority Leader - similar to majority Republican House Majority Leader Majority House Whip Democratic House Minority Leader leader(opposing party) - Steve Scalise - Tom Emmer - Hakeem Jeffries  IV. LAWMAKING IN THE HOUSE Speaker of the House decides what Bills are scheduled u l in g B il ls Sched Bill - proposed law until passed - proposed Bills are sent to a committee by the Speaker - 10-20% go to vote - House Calendars - lists bills up for vote  IV. LAWMAKING IN THE HOUSE House Rules Committee Meets On Affordable Health Care for America Act u l in g B il ls Sched After a committee has considered & approved a major bill, it usually goes to the House Rules Committee Rules Committee - calls for a vote on the floor - has the power to delay or block bills that reps & House leaders don’t like  IV. LAWMAKING IN THE HOUSE d u l in g B il ls Sche A quorum - minimum number of members needed for a vote - 218 members for quorum  THE SENATE The Senate  I. SENATE AT WORK Deliberates - formally discusses, public policies. VP presides over the Senate. - votes only in tie-breakers president pro tempore - elected by the Senate from the majority party - presides when VP not present  I. SENATE AT WORK Senate majority leader - - steers the bills - makes sure that members attend important sessions -gets support for key bills - keeps his or her own party united Senate brings bills to the floor by unanimous consent Current Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D)  I. SENATE AT WORK Filibuster to extend debate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote. Cloture limits the debate by allowing each senator only one hour for speaking on a bill Majority party controls the flow of bills in the Senate.  I. SENATE AT WORK 2013 Filibuster to extend debate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote. Cloture limits the debate by allowing each senator only one hour for speaking on a bill Majority party controls the flow of bills in the Senate. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES  I. PURPOSES OF COMMITTEES Serves 3 purposes: 1. allows members of How do you Congress to divide their work among many smaller abbreviate groups committee? - select which bills introduced into Congress to get further consideration - hold public hearings & investigations, committees help the public learn about key problems CMTE  I. PURPOSES OF COMMITTEES(CMTE) Congress has four kinds of committees: 1. Standing committees permanent groups that oversee bills that deal w/certain kinds of issues Subcommittees specialize in a subcategory of its standing CMTE’s responsibilities.  I. PURPOSES OF COMMITTEES 2. Select committees(CMTE) Temp CMTE that studies 1 specific issue & report findings to congress 3. Joint committees made up of members from both the House & Senate 4. Conference committees temp CMTEs set up when the House & Senate have passed different versions of a bill - combine the 2 bills  II. CHOOSING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Parties assign members to standing committees. - members can serve on only limited number of standing CMTEs sub-CMTEs Chairpersons make decisions about the work of CMTEs & manage floor debates on bills Joint hearing of House and Senate committees on the state's problems with freight rail congestion.  II. CHOOSING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Seniority system unwritten rule that the majority party member w/the longest service on a CMTE is the appointed leader STAFF AND SUPPORT AGENCIES  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE Congressional Staff Jobs - handle the growing workload of Congress - communicate w/voters, run CMTE hearings & floor sessions - draft new bills - write CMTE reports - attend CMTE meetings.  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE Staff Growth Staffs grew as lawmaking became more complex after early 1900s Congress needed staffs to deal w/ the many letters from their constituents Personal Staff Personal staff members work directly for individual senators & reps. Committee staff members work for the many House & Senate CMTEs.  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE f St a ff M e mb e r s 3 Ty p e s o 1. administrative assistant(AA) runs office, supervises the lawmaker’s schedule, & gives political advice 2. Legislative assistants Informs lawmaker about the many bills w/which they must deal 3. Caseworkers handle the many requests for help from a member’s constituents.  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE m i t t e e S ta ff Com CMTE chairperson & senior minority party member of CMTEs are in charge of CMTE staff members - drafting bills - studying issues - planning committee hearings & writing memos & reports  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE A g e nc i e s Support Library of Congress 1. largest library in the world - contains over 100 million books, journals, music pieces, films, photographs, & maps. 2. Congressional Budget Office - coordinates the budget work of Congress - studies budget proposals by the president - projects the costs of proposed programs Library of Congress  I. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ROLE r t A g e n cies Suppo 1. Govt Accountability Office(GAO) - reviews financial management of govt programs of Congress - collects govt debts, - settles claims & provides legal service. 2. Govt Printing Office (GPO) - coordinates the budget work of Congress - studies president’s budget proposals - projects costs of proposed programs