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CONGRESS IN ACTION -Officers in Congress -Bill to a Law process

CONGRESS IN ACTION -Officers in Congress -Bill to a Law process. CHAPTER 12. OFFICERS IN CONGRESS. Speaker of the House – the head of the House of Representatives. Who is the current Speaker of the House?  JOHN BOEHNER (R) Ohio

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CONGRESS IN ACTION -Officers in Congress -Bill to a Law process

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  1. CONGRESS IN ACTION-Officers in Congress-Bill to a Law process CHAPTER 12

  2. OFFICERS IN CONGRESS • Speaker of the House – the head of the House of Representatives. • Who is the current Speaker of the House? •  JOHN BOEHNER (R) Ohio • By far, the most important and most powerful position in Congress! • Why? - Elected by fellow members of the House of Rep. - The acknowledged leader of the majority party - 2nd in succession to the Presidency

  3. OFFICERS IN CONGRESS • Speaker of the House has 2 duties: • To preside over the House • To keep order • Within the House, no member can speak until formally recognized by the Speaker. • How is this different than the SENATE? (remember, the House of Representatives has very strict rules. The Speaker of the House presides almost like a Judge in a courtroom)

  4. OFFICERS OF CONGRESS • President of the Senate – The Vice President - Who is the VP?  Joe Biden (D) – 47th VP - how have there been 44 presidents, and 47 VP’s? • 2 differences between the VP and Speaker: 1. VP is not elected by the Senators (VP is picked by the President) 2. The VP is not a member of the Senate

  5. OFFICERS OF CONGRESS • The Vice President is NOT as respected in the Senate as the Speaker of the house is in the House of Representatives. • He is NOT a member of the Senate • He is NOT at all Senate meetings • He is NOT elected by the Senate body • He does NOT have the best interest of the Senate in mind Why?

  6. OFFICERS OF CONGRESS • President pro tempore– presides over the Senate in the absence of the VP.  Daniel Inouye (D) Hawaii • is elected by fellow Senators • Always a leading member of majority party • Usually longest serving member (49 years in the Senate) • Seniority Rule – the most important posts will be held by members with the longest service

  7. LEADERSHIP IN 111TH CONGRESS House of Rep. Senate PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE JOE BIDEN (Vice President) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BOEHNER(R - OHIO) PRESIDENT PRO TEMP DANIEL INOUYE (D – HAWAII) • Minority Floor Leader is also not an official position, but is picked by the minority party • Is less powerful than the Majority Leader because they control less votes. • Majority and Minority Whips are basically, assistant floor leaders. • they are the in-between person between the Leaders and the regular members. • Makes sure that members are present for important votes • Majority Floor leader is not an official position, but is picked by Majority party (Dem or Rep) colleagues. • Majority Floor leaders control the action on the floor. • Is more powerful than the Minority leader because they control more votes MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER ERIC CANTOR(R-VIRGINIA) MINORITY FLOOR LEADER NANCY PELOSI (D-CALIFORNIA) MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER HARRY REID (D- VA) MINORITY FLOOR LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY) MAJORITY WHIP DICK DURBIN (D – ILLINOIS) MINORITY WHIP JON KYL (R – ARIZONA) MAJORITY WHIP KEVIN McCARTHY (R – CALIFORNIA) MINORITY WHIP STENY HOYER (D – MARYLAND)

  8. LEADERS OF CONGRESS • In pairs, I will give you the role of one of the 11 leaders of Congress. Your job is to do your best to explain yourself (as the Congressional Leader) and your leadership job to the class. • Write down descriptive details about yourself and your specific job. Use pages 322-325 (5-10 mins) • Then…. • 1 of you stand up and explain your job (2-3 characteristics) • Do not Give your job title • Only explain the duties of your job • Lets see if the Class can figure out who you are?!

  9. A BILL IN THE HOUSE • A bill is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration. • Most bills are proposed in the Executive Branch, but can be originated by Congressmen • A Quorum – a majority of the full membership (218), must be present in order for th House to do business. • 10,000 measures are introduced during a term in Congress • Only 10% ever become a law Lets look at the bill handout!

  10. A BILL IN THE SENATE • Bills are normally introduced by Senators. • Then…… • Given a number and short title • Read twice • Referred to a committee. • Remember…… • The major difference between the House and Senate is debate. • Senate = unrestrained • House = strictly limited

  11. A BILL IN THE SENATE • A filibuster is an attempt to ‘talk a bill to death.’ • To stall or delay to prevent Senate action on a measure • Used by the Minority on a bill that they dislike • Longest ever: Strom Thurmond – 24 hours, 18 mins. In an effort to stop the Civil Rights Act of 1957. • over the last 100 years, over 200 measures have been killed by filibusters!!

  12. A BILL IN THE SENATE • Once a bill reaches the President he can do 4 things with it: • Sign the Bill – makes it a law • Veto it – refusing to sign it, sending it back to the house of origin. • Congress may override the veto with a 2/3 vote in each House • The President allows the bill to become a law without signing it, by not acting on it within 10 days (not counting Sundays). • A Pocket Veto – if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting it, and the President doesn’t act, then it Dies.

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