CONGRESS:The Legislative Branch

CHAPTER 7

CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURE• Each chamber has a majority party and a minority party• The majority party chooses committee and subcommittee chairs

and controls the policy agenda

HOUSE LEADERSHIP• SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: (required by

Constitution) elected by majority vote• MAJORITY LEADER: chosen by majority party to

represent its goals and policies• MAJORITY WHIP: assistant to MajL, agenda

setter, group communicator, issue planner• MINORITY LEADER: leader of opposition party• MINORITY WHIP: assistant to MinL, liaison to

minority party members

SPOTLIGHT: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

• Leader of the ENTIRE HOR, but a partisan position

• Appointed by the ENTIRE HOR• ONLY Constitutional leadership position in

the HOR• Serves as an active representative

SENATE LEADERSHIP• PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: constitutionally the

VP. Monitor debates, mostly breaks tie• PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: constitutionally

serves if VP unavailable (ceremonial)• MAJORITY LEADER: elected by maj. Party to lead

procedures, set agenda (leads Senate)• SENATE WHIP (majority): same as House• MINORITY LEADER: leads the interests of

minority party• SENATE WHIP (minority): same as House

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS• A congressional caucus is a group of members of

Congress who join together for a common purpose, to reach a common legislative goal. They can have significant influence depending upon their success. A few examples include the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus which works to promote ideas for the advancement of the Hispanic society as well as the Congressional Internet Caucus which promotes advancement in the internet industry.A group of members of the US Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES• Each considers bills and issues and recommends

measures for consideration by the House• Have oversight responsibilities to monitor

agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions

• The total number of committee slots allotted to each party is approximately the same as the ratio between majority party and minority party members in the full chamber.

• CONTROL THE CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA AND GUIDE LEGISLATION FROM ITS INTRODUCTION TO ITS SEND-OFF – "little legislatures" determine whether a bill will

reach the floor and be called for a vote

COMMITTEES• STANDING COMMITTEE :–Permanent, work on annual items–Responsible for issues from agriculture,

armed services, energy, homeland security, ways and means– JOINT COMMITTEE:–Members of both chambers

COMMITTEES• SELECT/SPECIAL COMMITTEE:– Temporary to address emerging issues

(unless it’s a permanent select)– Set up to investigate or research issues

beyond authority of standing committee• CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:–Differences emerge from House and

Senate debates– Includes major sponsors from both

chambers–Compromises on the version differences–Creates united bill

• STANDING:– Appropriations Committees recommend legislation to

provide budget authority for federal agencies and programs

– Budget Committees establish aggregate levels for total spending and revenue that serve as guidelines for the work of the authorizing and appropriating panels

• JOINT– Joint Committee on Printing oversees the functions of

the Government Printing Office – Joint Committee on the Library: devoted to the affairs

and administration of the Library of Congress, the library of the federal legislature

• SPECIAL/SELECT:– Indian affairs, ethics, intelligence, aging• Aging: studies issues related to older Americans,

particularly Medicare and SS

• CONFERENCE:– Process enabling most bills to become law– Negotiate a compromise bill that both houses

can accept–Made up mostly of chairs from both houses

committees

COMMITTEE PRACTICES (111th )• Majority party has majority of seats

on the committees and names the chair

• Assignments:– House members: 2 standing• APPROPRIATIONS

– DEM – 37– REP - 23

– Senate members: 3 standing• FINANCE

– DEM – 13– REP - 10

WHY DOESN’T ANYTHING GET DONE?

• Consent of a bill takes too many people:• Majorities on the relevant committees and

subcommittees of EACH chamber (and chairs)• Appropriations committee of EACH chamber

(and chairs)• House Rules Committee• Chamber majorities• Majority party leaders• President

PARTISAN V. BIPARTISAN

POTUS & COTUS