The House of Representatives

Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?

Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?

Speaker

of the

House

Nancy Pelosi

* From California* Highest elected female official* First woman ever to control the House of Representatives

Who is the #2 officer in the House of Representatives?

• There is not one.

• If the Speaker must be gone, then the Majority Leader steps in for a few days.

Who are the other leaders of the House of Representatives?

• House Majority LeaderSteny Hoyer

– Right hand person to the Speaker– Help push through bills– Often ‘bugs’ other members in committee to get a move on.

• Majority WhipJames Clyburn

– Watchdog to see how people are planning to vote.– Persuade people to do as the party wishes.

House Minority Leader

John Boehner

House Minority Whip

Eric Cantor

Who are the other leaders of the House of Representatives?

The Senate

Who is the presiding officer of the Senate?

The Vice President of the U.S. who has the title of “President of the Senate.”

Joe Biden

Can cast a vote in case of a tie.When VP is not there (most of the time) the president pro tempore takes over.He/she is elected with the President, not by the Senate.

Who is #2 in the Senate?

President Pro-Tempore

Robert C. Byrd

From West VirginiaLongest serving Senator in

history (over 52 years uninterrupted)

(59 years total in Congress)

94 years old

Former member of KKK

Also “Dean” of the Senate

Who are the other leaders in the Senate?

Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid

Makes sure people are attending meetings for his party and gets support on

important bills

Majority WhipRichard Durbin

Minority LeaderMitch McConnellDevelops criticisms for

majority party’s bills

Minority WhipJon Kyl

Who are the other leaders in the Senate?

In both the Senate and the House of Representatives,

there are other leaders.

The most important are the committee chairpersons.

Committees

• This is where all the work is done

• Each Congressman is a member (or chair) of several committees

• Some committees are more powerful/exciting than others; selection to a committee based on tenure, politics, and constituency needs

• Allows members to become specialists

Committees

Powerful Committees

House• Rules• Ways and Means

(taxation, tariffs and other revenue raising legislation)

• Appropriations (where the money goes, how much)

Senate• Foreign Relations• Finance (like the

Ways and Means, but also deals with Social Security)

• Appropriations

Committee Chairpersons

• Make the important decisions: when they will meet, which bills to consider, and for how long

• Decide on experts & witnesses to be called/allowed

• Manage floor debates on bills from their committees

Rules Committee• One of the most

powerful committees• Decides how and when

a bill will be considered (controls flow of traffic)

• Can move a bill up on the Calendar

• Can also place a time limit on debate

Louise M. Slaughter NY

House: Rules Committee

What Committees are There?

• http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/committee_list.cgi?site=ctc