LET’S GET MOVING!

1. Date: October 16, 2012Topic: Party Leadership and Committees in Congress.Aim: How does party leadership and committees play key roles in the legislative process?Do Now: Get Ready. LET’S GET MOVING!

2. Standing Committees – more or less permanent bodies with specified legislative responsibilities. • Ex: House Committee on Homeland Security/Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. • Select Committees – groups appointed for a limited purpose and usually lasting for only a few congresses. • Joint Committees – those on which both representatives and senators serve. • Conference Committees – a type of joint committee where members of senate and house work to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill. Committees in Congress

3. Specialization – members of Congress tend to specialize in the work of their individual committees. • Division of labor – members of Congress then spread their knowledge to other members of Congress. • Reciprocity/logrolling – a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers. • Party Representation on Committees – the committee will represent the chamber as a whole. • Parties will attempt to push their own agendas and determine leadership on committees. Elements of the Committee System that Impacts Legislative Process

4. Scheduling – ex: debates. • Agenda Setting. • Recognition on the floor. • Assignment of members on committees – Ex: Senate – Steering Committee (D), Committee on Committees (R). • House – Steering and Policy Committee (D) and Committee on Committees (R) • HOW DO EACH OF THESE IMPACT THE LEGISLAIVE PROCESS? Influence of Party Leadership on Legislative Process

5. 1.) Hold Committee Chairs • 2.) Controls the Rules Committee (No Rules Committee in Senate) • Rules of the House of Representatives are drafted when the new “House” convenes. • Ensures that rules are being followed. • Sets the rules of debate (there are limits in the House unlike the Senate). Debate time? No debate time at all? Amendments to the bill? • The majority party always holds a 9-4 advantage – “traffic cop” of Congress. • 3.) Sets the agenda. • 4.)Controls the debate. • 5.) Chooses the Speaker of the House. • 6.) Holds majority on each committee. • 7.) Assigns bills to committees. Advantages of the Majority Party in the House (above numbers).

6. Differences Between the House and Senate - Bill Pass in one chamber but not the other.

7. Sample Checklist to Test Germaneness • Does the amendment deal with a different topic or subject? • Does the amendment unreasonably or unduly expand the subject of the bill? • Would the amendment introduce an independent question? • Is the amendment relevant, appropriate, and in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal? • Would the amendment change the purpose, scope or object of the original bill? • Would the amendment change one type of motion into another type? • Would the amendment change a private (or local) bill into a general bill? • Would the amendment require a change in the bill title?

8. Groups (may be bipartisan) meeting to pursue common legislative objectives • Rivals to parties in policy formulation • Examples: Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Out of Iraq Caucus, Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus, House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children CAUCUSES

9. Party leaders schedule bills for floor debate on the calendar • Unlimited debate • Filibuster - member(s) keep talking to block debate on a bill • Cloturevote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster • Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Floor Action - Senate Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act