Constitutional

House Senate

435 Members (apportioned by population)

Two Year Terms Initiates all Revenue Bills Initiates impeachment

procedures Members chosen from

local districts Originally elected by

voters

100 members (2 from each State)

Six-year terms. 1/3rd up for reelection every 2 years

Offers Advice and Consent on many major presidential appointments

Tries Impeached officials Ratifies Treaties Chosen from the state as a

whole Originally elected by state

legislatures (until 1913)

OperationHouse Senate

More Organized with formal rules

Debate limited More partisan Less prestige and less

individual notice Rules Committee

Sets the Calendar for the House. (Gatekeeper)

Sets the Rules for debate Germane/Non Germane Open/Closed Time Limits

Less Organized Smaller Debate extended More prestige and more

individual attention Fewer rules and

restrictions- No Rules Committee Gives the Senate the

ability to *****Filibuster*****

Cloture ends a filibuster

RULES COMMITTEE

The House operates with an elaborate system to control the system to control the agenda an allot time fairly in such a large assembly.

For each major bill, the RULES COMMITTEE normally proposes a RULE for debate that includes time limitations, divides the time between the majority and minority and specifies whether amendments can be proposed.

As a result of its stricter time limits on debate, the House can usually pass legislation more quickly than the Senate.

FILIBUSTER- DEFINED For legislation to reach the floor of the Senate, the body must have

approved the rules of debate by Unanimous Consent Agreement- which means the entire body agrees to the rules of debate.

The Senate has the tradition of FILIBUSTER- or the use of unlimited debate as a blocking tactic.

The filibuster was initially conceived of as a way to ensure that minority opinions were heard and understood before the Senate voted on an issue.

The idea behind the filibuster was simple: As long as a senator kept talking on the floor, a bill could not move forward

In 1917, at the behest of President Wilson, the Senate adopted a procedure known as the cloture vote, which could end a filibuster. If a cloture vote is called for, a super-majority (3/5’S) of senators can force an end to debate and bring the question under consideration to an up-or-down vote.

LeadershipHouse Senate

Speaker of the House Most powerful person in the

Legislative Branch Head of the majority party

Majority/Minority Leader Head of the Party in the House Elected in Party Caucus Foster cohesion and speaks for

party Majority/Minority Whip

Organizes the party during votes and keeps tabs on “rogue members”

Conduct polls and make sure people show up to vote

Passes down information from leadership to party members

Vice President Constitutional Leader of the

Senate Duties? Vote to break tie

President Pro Tempore Bangs the Gavel/ceremonial Usually the oldest majority

party member

Majority Leader DE FACTO LEADER OF

SENATE Right to be recognized first on

the floors Minority Leader- same Majority/Minority Whip

Speaker of the House Formal powers of the Speaker:

Presiding over meetings of the House Appointing members of joint committees and conference

committees Scheduling legislation for floor action Deciding points of order and interpreting the rules with the

advice of the House parliamentarian Referring bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing

committees of the House. He can take part in floor debate and vote, but usually only

votes to break a tie.

Quiz Why are there no filibusters in the House? Define Gerrymandering. Who is the constitutional leader of the Senate? What ends a filibuster? Name 5 of the 17 powers of Congress.

Committee System The INNER WORKINGS OF

CONGRESS!!!!! “The Work that takes place in the committee

and subcommittee rooms of Capitol Hill is critical to the productivity and effectiveness of Congress”

Write Laws and Conduct Legislative Oversight

4 Types of Committees Standing- the most important Joint Conference Select or Special Committee

Committees Standing Committees- the most important

Permanent Subject Matter Committees Have sub committees

What are some? (see pg. 362 of your book) Joint Committees

Includes members from both Houses of Congress Can be permanent or temporary

Conference Committees Reconcile Differences between House and Senate bills No bill can be sent to the President to be signed until it has

passed both houses in the same form. Select Committees

Temporary Committees There is a select committee on Global Warming

Committees Chairs Most powerful people in Congress

Appointed by the Majority Leader of House and Senate It used to be based on Seniority, but Newt and his

Contract with America changed it from a Spoils System to a Merit System (restricted chair persons time to 6 years as chair)

Guess what party has all of the Committee Chairs?

Chairs pick and Choose what bills will be submitted to the Floor and what bills will be exiled

Regular committee members are appointed to standing committees by the Steering committee of their part.

Usually the majority party member with the longest term of continuous service would be given preference

Congressional Elections Decentralized- conducted by individual state governments but

they must follow constitutional rules. House members elected every 2nd year by popular ballot Number of seats awarded to each state is to be determined every

10 years by the census. Each state has at least one representative Senators elected by popular vote after the 17th amendment Senators every 6 years; 1/3 of seats up for re election every 2

years. Districts have to be equal in population- Bakker vs. Carr- one man

one vote. Only states can elect members of Congress, so territories like Guam

can’t.Who can run?•Can be self selected•House: 25 years, citizen for 7 years, live in the state they will represent•Senators: 30 years, citizen for 9 years, live in the state they will represent•Usually have ties within the community- many see it as a stepping stone to a future political office, house to senator to governor or even president.

Campaigns and Elections Very expensive- Senate 9.7 million, House 1.4 million Campaign funds include direct contributions, contributions by PACS,

and soft money funneled through state party committees. (Regulated by FECA and BCRA).

Most candidates for Congress win nomination through a direct primary in which party identifiers vote for them to be on the general election ticket.

Congressional candidates are always hopeful of the COATTAIL effect- when a strong presidential candidate sweeps senators and congressman into office on his coattails. (VERY LIMITED IN REALITY).

Presidents party usually loses seats in the mid term elections The power of INCUMBENCY is a huge factor in elections.

Once members are elected they build up loyalty and are frequently reelected. 90% who run for reelection win. They are more well known, have more access to resources and media and funds, have

a record of accomplishments, the resources of Congress already