7.7 Organization of Congress

1. 7.7 Organization of Congress

2. CONGRESS 7.7 How is congress organized? AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

3. 7.7a-b Organization of Congress • “Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings” Art. I, Sec. 5, par. 2 • Congress is organized, to a great extent, along party lines • Four power centers… • Committees • Caucuses • Parties • Leadership AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

4. 7.7c POWER CENTER Committees

5. 7.7c Committees • Committees = single most important institution for the business of congress… • “Workhorse” of congress • Study bills / Hold hearings • Most bills die in committee • 6% • Headed by chairman • Standing committees • Subcommittees • Volume & Complexity >> • Specialization AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

6. 7.7c Committees cont. • Three Types of Committees • Standing • Select • Joint • Conference • House (21) … Senate(17) • Each standing committee is divided into subcommittees AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

7. 7.7c Committees cont. • The most powerful committees are: • Rules (H) • Appropriations (H & S) • Ways and Means (H) • Finance (S) • Armed Services (H & S) • Intelligence (H & S) • Foreign Relations (H & S) • Judiciary (S) • Limitations: • Exclusive, major and minor committees AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

8. 7.7c POWER CENTER Caucuses

9. 7.7c Caucuses • Caucuses have come to rival the parties for influence and power • Explosion of caucuses • 1993 = 100 ………….. 2014 = 694! AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

10. In Depth • Politico coverage of the Congressional Black Caucus (Politico) • http://www.politico.com/p/tag/congressional-black-caucus • There’s a Caucus for That… (National Journal) • http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/got-a-hobby-or-general-interest-there-s-a-congressional-caucus-for-that-20140418 7.7c Caucuses cont. • Types of caucuses • Ideological • Race & Gender • Economic • Regional • Influential caucuses • Black caucus • Women’s caucus • Hispanic caucus • Blue Dog Democrats • Tea Party caucus AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

11. 7.7c POWER CENTER POLITICAL PARTIES

12. Power of the Majority Party • Congress is dominated by the majority party • Majority party ……v…. Minority party • Control committee chairs • Dominate important committees • Leadership • Speaker = always from majority party • Control the Agenda • What bills come up for a vote AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

13. Interparty Committees / Party Caucuses • House • R = Committee on Committees & Policy Committee • D = Steering & Policy Committee • Senate • R = Committee on Committees • D = Steering Committee • Democratic and Republican caucuses (conference) • Nominate leaders (Speaker) • Propose house rule changes AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

14. 7.7c POWER CENTER CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

15. House: Speaker (Constitutional) Majority Leader / Whip Minority Leader / Whip • In Depth • Speaker of the House (Heritage) • http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/1/essays/10/speaker-of-the-house • What Does the Speaker and the Whip Actually Do? (Wash. Post) • http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-house-gop-leadership-primer-what-do-the-speaker-majority-leader-and-whip-actually-do/2014/06/16/3abdcb80-f57c-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html 7.7c Congressional Leadership AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

16. Speaker • Constitutional Office • Third in line • Nomination(1:40) / Transfer • Formal Powers… • Assigns… • Recognizes… • Appoints… • Chairs… • In Depth • Boehner Overcomes Opposition to Win Speaker (CNN Jan 2015) • http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/politics/house-speaker-boehner-vote/ 7.7c Congressional Leadership AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

17. Senate Vice president / President Pro tempore Majority Leader / Whip Minority Leader / Whip Review (Crash Course) 7.7c Congressional Leadership AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

18. Leadership Skills in Congress… • Personal skill is essential • Pelosi & Boehner • Lyndon Johnson • The Johnson Effect AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

19. Leadership Skills in Congress • Newt Gingrich: • 1994 Republican Revolution………………………..Contract with America • Core debate: size and scope of government Then……………..Now AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

20. House Centralized Leaders are powerful whereas individual members have less Rules more restrictive, debate is limited House members are limited in debate time Get things done The House is almost always more decisive in its actions. This is a consequence of the fact that the House has different rules on debate and that individual members are less powerful Senate Individualized Individual members have more power, leaders have less Rules and debate more open Once recognized, Senators may speak as long as they wish. This allows for a filibuster. Slow and Deliberative The Senate has a tradition of taking its time and moving slowly on bills 7.7d House and Senate Comparison AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

21. In Depth A Day in the Life of a House Staffer (Roll Call) http://www.rollcall.com/issues/58_27/Hill-Climbers-A-Day-in-The-Life-Of-a-House-Staffer-218041-1.html What is Daily Life like for a Congressional Staffer? (Slate.com) http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/11/07/congressional_staffers_what_s_it_like_to_work_for_a_member_of_congress.html Politics of the CBO (CNN Money) http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/04/news/economy/cbo-dynamic-scoring/index.html 7.7e Staff and Staff Agencies • Congressional Staffers • Increasing power • Congressional Staff Agencies • CBO …. Politics • GAO • CRS AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School

22. FINI AP Government & Politics Timpanogos High School