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Congress in Action. U3, C12. LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS. HOUSE. SENATE. Presiding Officer and Party Leader. Presiding Officers. Speaker of the House. President of the Senate. President Pro Tempore. Party Officers. Party Officers. Majority Floor Leader. Minority Floor Leader.
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Congress in Action U3, C12
LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS HOUSE SENATE Presiding Officer and Party Leader Presiding Officers Speaker of the House President of the Senate President Pro Tempore Party Officers Party Officers Majority Floor Leader Minority Floor Leader Majority Floor Leader Minority Floor Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip
Committee Organization Committee Chairs Committee Assignments • Those members who head the standing committees in each chamber • Chosen from majority party by majority party caucus • Decide when committee meet, which bills take up, whether to hold public hearings, witnesses the committee should call • Seniority rule: most important posts held by those party members with longest records of service • Criticisms • Seniority rule applied closely in each house when it elects members of each committee • Formally elected by floor vote • Majority party always holds a majority of the seats • Standing committees divided into subcommittees to handle workload
The Initial Steps • Bill: proposed law presented to House or Senate for consideration • Origins: members of Congress, Executive Branch, interest groups, private citizens, standing committees • Types of Bills and Resolutions • Public bill: measures applying to nation as a whole • Private bill: measures that apply to certain persons or places rather than entire nation • Joint resolutions: when passed, force of law; deal with unusual or temporary matters; propose constitutional amendments • Concurrent resolutions: deal with matters in which House and Senate must act jointly; do not have force of law; do not require President’s signature • Resolutions: deal with matters concerning either house alone and are taken up only by that house; does not have force of law; does not require President signature • Rider: attached to bill or resolution, deals with unrelated matter; unlikely to pass on own merit and attached to important measure certain to pass
How a Bill Becomes a Law School House Rock – “I’m Just a Bill”