Rules for Lawmaking

1. Rules for Lawmaking • Each house has rules to conduct business • Most business is carried out by committees • Especially in House where membership is so large • Party membership guides Congress • Majority party organizes committees • House must have a quorum • Majority to vote on bills

2. House Leadership • Coordinate work by meeting six goals: • Organizing and unifying party members • Scheduling work • Ensuring lawmakers are present for key votes • Distributing and collecting information • Keeping the House in touch with the President • Influencing lawmakers to support their party’s position

3. House Leadership • The Speaker of the House • Influence proceedings by choosing who speaks • Appoints members of some committees • Schedules bills for action • Follows VP in line for Presidency • A caucus of the majority party chooses Speaker • Other House Leaders • Majority leader – speaker’s assistant • Floor leader, can schedule work in House • Whips – assistant floor leaders • Minority leader and minority whips • Cannot schedule work

4. Lawmaking in the House • Proposed law is called a bill • Speaker of House sends bills to committee for review • 10-20% make it out of committee • Bills surviving are placed on calendars • Major bills will go to House Rules Committee • Reach floor by special order • Rules Committee can delay bills they do not want to come to a vote

5. The Senate at Work • Deliberate on public policies • Vice president presides over Senate • Votes only to break a tie • President pro tempore presides when VP is absent • Majority Leader – steers party’s bills through • Ensures Senators are there to vote for key bills • Minority Leader – critiques majority party’s bills • Keeps his/her party united

6. The Senate at Work • Filibuster bills • Extend debate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote • Cloture – stops a filibuster • Limits the debate by allowing Senators one hour to speak • Majority party controls the flow of bills

7. Senate vs. House of Reps