Organization of Congress

1. Organization of Congress

2. Speaker of the House • Is the elected presiding officer of the House and the leader of the Majority Party. • The Speaker of the House is the most powerful member within the Halls of Congress. • Is expected to aid the fortunes of his party and its legislative goals. • Duties of the Speaker • Presides over most Sessions of Congress • Interprets and applies rules • Refers bills to Committees • Rules on points of order (questions on house procedures) • Puts motions to vote • Names members to all select and conference committees. • The Speaker is 3rd in the line of succession to the presidency.

3. John Boehner • Present Speaker of the House. • Republican from Ohio

4. Joe Biden • President of the Senate • Democrat from Delaware

5. President of the Senate • Is the Senate’s presiding officer. • The Senate does not decide their presiding officer. • The Senate’s presiding officer is not apart of the Senate and can be of a different party than the majority. • Duties of the President of the Senate • Recognizing members • Put questions to a vote • Breaks a tie

6. President pro tempore • Serves as the President of the Senate in the Vice President’s absence. • This member is elected by the Senate and always a member of the majority party. • The President pre tempore is 4th in the line of succession to the presidency. • Orrin Hatch (R) Utah

7. Party Officers • Party Caucus • Is a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house. Meets on occasion during sessions of Congress • They often deal with party organization, such as selection of leaders and deciding committee membership. • Floor Leaders • The Majority and Minority leaders in both houses and they are the most important officers in Congress. • They try to carry out the decisions of their parties’ and they are the chief spokesman for their parties.

8. House Floor Leaders

9. Senate Floor Leaders

10. Whips • Assistant floor leaders • Chosen by their party caucus • They Check with party leaders and inform the leaders how many votes can be counted on in particular manners. • Makes sure that all members are present for a vote and they vote with the leadership.

11. Majority Whips

12. Minority Whips

13. Committee Chairmen • Members of Congress that head the committees in each chamber. • They are chosen from the majority party by the party caucus. • They decide when the committees meet, bills they will take up, public hearings, and which witnesses will be called.

14. Seniority Rule • An unwritten custom that provides that the most important posts, in the party organization will be held by those members that have the longest records of service in Congress. • Most strictly applied to Committee Chairs.

15. Standing Committee • These are the permanent panels that have been set up. These Committees are always present. • Most Important House Committees • Rules • Ways and Means • Appropriations • Armed Services • Judiciary • International Relations • Agriculture committees • Most Important Senate Committees • Foreign Relations • Appropriations • Finance • Judiciary • Armed Services • Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

16. Select Committee • Panels that are set up for a specific purpose and most often for a limited amount of time. • Bengahzi • Steroids in Baseball • Concussions in Football • Watergate Investigation

17. Joint Committee • Committee that is comprised of both the House and Senate.

18. Conference Committee • Is a temporary joint body to iron out the differences in a bill. Must create a compromise bill that both Houses must accept

19. p 321 • Why are most of the votes on opening day only formalities? • Because the various officers have already been chosen by conference beforehand.

20. p 323 • How does the role of Speaker differ from the role of the president of the Senate? • The Speaker has more powerful role, as elected presiding officer of the House and leader of the majority party.

21. p 327 • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the seniority rule? • Benefits • Ensures experienced leaders and easy to apply • Drawbacks • Ignores younger members and encourages favoritism.

22. What are the duties of the Whip? • The party whips assist the floor leaders and serve as liaisons between the party’s leadership and its members. • They help arrange and track voting and member attendance.

23. What is the purpose of the party caucus? • The party caucus selects floor leaders and deals with other matters of party organization.

24. p 330 • What considerations might lead a member of congress to want to serve on a particular committee? • Personal background; importance or influence of the committee.

25. What is a standing committee and why are such committees called “subject-matter” committees? • Are permanent panels; because they deal only with bills that concern a particular subject matter.

26. What is the usual role of select committees in the House and Senate? • They are set up to investigate specific current matters for a limited amount of time; they usually investigate new laws, determine the adequacy of old ones, and exercise Congress’s oversight function.

27. Quick Write • Should positions of power in both houses be determined by Seniority Rule or by merit?