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The United States Congress

Learn about the organizational structure, functions, and key roles in the U.S. Congress to grasp the legislative process from bill introduction to becoming law.

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The United States Congress

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  1. The United States Congress Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Mark Twain

  2. More partisan and unified More loyalty to party More structured and organized Majority rules always Limited debate and amendments The House of Representatives

  3. Senators more powerful individually Less party-oriented and party- dependent Looser rules of debate and amendments Minority can block the majority (the “filibuster”) The Senate

  4. Special Rules of the Senate Unlimited debate Bills brought to floor by consent of party leaders Filibusters (can be ended by a “cloture vote”,60 votes) The “hold” put on bills “non-germane” amendments

  5. Structure of the House Chosen from the Majority Party Speaker of the House: John Boehner (R - OH) Elected by House members Only Congressional office mentioned by the Constitution Duties: controls debate, approves committee assignments, designates which bills are considered by the House

  6. The Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R – VA) The Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R- CA) Structure of the House

  7. The Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D – CA) The Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D- MD) Structure of the House

  8. Structure of the Senate President of the Senate: Joseph Biden Duties: presides over the Senate can not vote unless there is a tie rarely present in the Senate

  9. The Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – NV) The Majority Whip Richard Durban ( D - IL) Structure of the Senate

  10. The Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R - KY) The Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R – AZ) Structure of the Senate

  11. The Committees Four Types: Standing (permanent) Joint (for investigations) Select (info gathering) Conference (to reconcile different bills from House and Senate)

  12. The Committees Most Important (House) Energy and Commerce Fred Upton (R – MI) Ways and Means Henry Waxman (D – CA) Appropriations David Camp (R – MI) David Dreier (R – CA) Sander Levin (D-MI) Rules Norm Dicks (D- WA) Jerry Lewis (R – CA) Louise Slaughter (D – NY)

  13. The Senate Committees Appropriations Judiciary Finance Daniel Inouye (D – HA) Thad Cochran (R – MS) (Orrin Hatch R – UT) Patrick Leahy (D – VT) Charles Grassley (R – IA) Max Baucus (D – MT) Foreign Relations John Kerry (D –MA) Jeff Sessions (R – AL) Kent Conrad (D – ND) Richard Luger (R – IN) Budget

  14. The Committees Chair Positions: Based on seniority Majority party holds chairs Power to hold or move bills forward or “pigeonhole” them Conducts hearings

  15. The Committees Staff Does research Gathers information Assigned to committees or to Congress itself Rep. Sam Hall (R – TX)

  16. Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Investigative (i.e. Watergate) Power to subpoena witnesses and gather information

  17. Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Electoral – chooses president when no majority is achieved in Electoral College

  18. Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Executive – Senate Confirms appointments of the president Also confirms treaties

  19. Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Impeachment: House files charges, Senate acts as jury, Chief Justice presides

  20. Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Amendment: two thirds of House and Senate needed to send amendments to States (3/4 needed for ratification)

  21. Powers of Congress Types Expressed: Article I, Section VIII, clauses 1 - 17 Implied: “necessary and proper” (clause 18) (the “Elastic Clause”) “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers…”

  22. The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: “franking” or unlimited mailings to home district

  23. The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Money and the ability to raise money

  24. The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Constituency service Bill Flores – R – TX 17)

  25. The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Credit claiming Position taking Name recognition

  26. The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Lack of quality opponents Ignorant voters

  27. The Electoral Connection Reasons for defeat: Re-districting Scandal Re-alignment of electorate: 1932, 1994, 2006, 2010?

  28. The Electoral Connection Usually nonfactors: Foreign Policy Economy “coattails” Can be factors occasionally (2006, 2008, 2010)

  29. How a Bill Becomes A Law!

  30. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Bill is introduced by a member in House Hello, Bill! YouTube - I'm Just a Bill

  31. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Member of Congress submits bill, read by clerk, and then put in “the hopper” Can be “killed” by Speaker or sent forward to Rules Committee

  32. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Bill sent to the Rules Committee, to determine which committee is to work on it (or it can be “pigeonholed”) Bill dies

  33. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Sent to the Committee, assigned to a subcommittee Subcommittee holds hearings, performs studies, and makes revisions (“mark-up”)

  34. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Subcommittee reports it back to full committee Committee can either: “pigeonhole” it Approve it Kill it!

  35. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Back to the Rules Committee Sets guidelines on: length of debate amendments, yes/no type of vote put on the calendar

  36. How a Bill Becomes A Law! Full House Debate YES – on to the Senate NO – bummer! Bill is killed!

  37. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Bill introduced to the Senate by a member Assigned to appropriate committee by Senate leadership (no Rules Committee in the Senate) McConnell Reid

  38. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Subcommittee hearings, mark-ups, etc. Report to the full committee

  39. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Committee can kill it or pass it Sends it to the Senate leadership to be put on the calendar

  40. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Full Senate debate, filibusters, amendments, final vote If yes: conference committee If no: big bummer!

  41. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Conference Committee made up of both House and Senate members works out differences in the two bills Sent back to original body for final vote No debate or amendments Yes or No

  42. How A Bill Becomes a Law! Sent to President If signed: IT’S A LAW! Veto: sent back to Congress for possible 2/3 override

  43. Influences on Legislation The President The Courts Events The Media Interest Groups

  44. Influences on Legislation The Party Constituent demands Crazy , Right Wing, God-fearin’ Conservatives AP Government Classes

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