Unit 3: Structure and Functions of the Federal Government

1. Unit 3: Structure and Functions of the Federal Government Three branches compose the basic structure of the federal government. Public policy is created through the making of laws, the execution of the laws and the adjudication of disputes under the laws.

2. Content Statements Law and public policy are created and implemented by three branches of government; each functions with its own set of powers and responsibilities. The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing current issues.

3. Congressional Leadership U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives

4. Legislative Branch Section 4: Organization of Congress

5. Terms and Sessions • Every 2 years, all House of Reps and 1/3 of Senators • New term begins Jan. 3 • Each Congress is numbered • 1st was 1789-1790 • 112th was 2011-2012 • Each term divided into two 1-year sessions • Quorum (majority) must be present to conduct business

6. Term Limits—none for Congress • For—get new people in • Against—want consistency • Incumbents—current officeholders, they usually win re-election

7. Congressional Leaders • *Majority party—holds most seats • *Minority party—holds fewer seats

8. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Speaker President Pro Tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

9. Congressional Leadership How do congressional leaders maintain order and facilitate the legislative process?

11. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Speaker President Pro Tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

12. President of the SenateJoe Biden - U.S. Vice President (D) • Does not debate bills or address the Senate • Votes only if there is a tie • Presides over official electoral college vote • Presides over Federal impeachment cases (except President… Chief Justice presides in these cases)

13. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

14. President Pro TemporeDaniel Inouye (D)

15. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

16. Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid (D) • Most Senior Senate Official • Day-to-Day manager of business in Senate • Primary spokesperson for his party

17. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

18. Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R) • Most Senior Official For Minority Party • Set party Agenda and Strategy

19. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

20. Senate Majority WhipRichard Durbin (D) • Persuade Members to vote on party lines • Ensure bills have enough support to pass • “whip up support” for party

21. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

22. Senate Minority WhipJon Kyl (R) • Persuade Members to vote on party lines • Ensure bills have enough support to pass • “whip up support” for party

24. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker John Boehner (R) President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

25. Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (R) • Presides over the House of Representatives • Sets the agenda for legislation • Primary Spokesperson for his or her party • Most Senior official in House of Representatives

26. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker John Boehner (R) President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Minority Leader Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

27. House Majority LeaderEric Cantor- (R) • Leader of the Majority Party • Second most senior official in House of Reps. • Recently day-to-day manager of business on house floor

28. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker John Boehner (R) President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

29. House Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D) • Most senior official of minority party • Leader of Minority Party • Set party agenda, message, and strategy

30. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker John Boehner (R) President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R) Minority Whip Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

31. House Majority WhipKevin McCarthy (R) • Persuade Members to vote on party lines • Ensure bills have enough support to pass • “whip up support” for party

32. U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (D) Speaker John Boehner (R) President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D) Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) Majority Leader Harry Reid – (D) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – (R) Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R) Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D) Majority Whip Dick Durbin – (D) Minority Whip Jon Kyl – (R) Rank-and-File Representatives Rank-and-File Senators

33. House Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D) • Persuade Members to vote on party lines • Ensure bills have enough support to pass • “whip up support” for party

34. The Legislative Branch Section 5: The Committee System

35. Committee System Questions What is the purpose of the committees? What is a standing committee? A subcommittee? A select committee? A joint committee? A conference committee? Members of Congress who have served the longest often head key committees and have an important voice in passing legislation. Do you think this seniority system helps Congress to operate more effectively? EXPLAIN!

36. The Committee System “Congress in the Committee is Congress at work” -Woodrow Wilson

38. Purpose of Committees • Committees ease Congressional workload by dividing work among small groups.

39. Purpose of Committees • Committees allow members to discuss and select the most important bills Congress will consider.

40. Kinds of Committees • Standing committees deal with certain issues continuing from one Congress to the next. • Judiciary Committee

41. Kinds of Committees • Subcommittees handle special subcategories of standing committees’ work, and also continue from one Congress to the next. • Social Security

42. Kinds of Committees • Select committees are special committees created in both houses of Congress for one term to study a specific topic. • 9/11 Commission

43. Kinds of Committees • Joint Committees – members from both Houses. • Taxation • Conference Committees – temporary committees set up to resolve differences in the House and Senate version of a bill.

44. Choosing Members • Assigning members to various committees is a key decision in the organization of Congress.

45. Choosing Members • Membership on certain committees… • Helps members build reputations and increase their chances for reelection. • Gives members a chance to influence important national legislation. • Enables members to influence other members since those committees deal with issues that are important to all members.

46. Choosing Members • In both houses, parties assign members to the standing committees • Party leaders and chairpersons of the standing committees are the most important members of Congress.

47. Choosing Members • Standing committee chairpersons make key decisions about the work of their committees, though their power has decreased.

48. Discussion Question • Members of Congress who have served the longest often head key committees and have an important voice in passing legislation. Do you think this seniority system helps Congress to operate more effectively? EXPLAIN!