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The US Congress

The US Congress. Chapters 10 & 12. Powers of Congress. Leadership Roles in Congress. Presiding Officers. Vice President = President of the Senate Can preside & keep order, only votes when a tie Speaker of the House- House

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The US Congress

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  1. The US Congress Chapters 10 & 12

  2. Powers of Congress

  3. Leadership Roles in Congress

  4. Presiding Officers • Vice President = President of the Senate • Can preside & keep order, only votes when a tie • Speaker of the House- House • Most powerful in Congress, acknowledged leader of majority party, also 3rd in line to presidency • President pro tempore- in Senate • Served in VP’s absence, longest serving of majority party • 4th in line to presidency

  5. Standing Committees – permanent20 in House, 16 in Senate

  6. Special Committees-investigation Watergate - Nixon Lewinsky - Clinton

  7. Joint Committees Joint Committee-made up of members of both House & Senate to advise Important issues…

  8. Conference Committee Bills must be passed by both houses (identical forms) before sent to president. What if both houses cannot pass in identical form?

  9. Why do they serve on a committee? • Choose to serve on a particular committee… • To benefit their district or state • To influence national policy • Because of their personal interest or background • Once named to a committee, they may stay on it as long as they wish • Eventually, members with seniority may become the committee chair • Committee chairs are always from the majority party

  10. How does a bill (idea) become a law? School House Rock video Committee Action is very important…

  11. Presidential involvement….sign or veto! President can sign bill & it law or veto. Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote in each house.

  12. Congress adjourns & President ignores the bill & it dies..

  13. President can ignore & it becomes law! • If President doesn't want to sign it but doesn't want to veto it, he can simply ignore it and it becomes law in ten days (excepting Sundays) while Congress is in session.

  14. Veto’s and overrides…

  15. Vocabulary Terms • quorum - The number of senators/house that must be present to do business-majority plus 1- senators (51), House-218 members • filibuster - Informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or by debating it at length. • cloture - the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill, and overcome a filibuster. (3/5 of senate = 60 votes)

  16. Vocabulary terms.. • Seniority rule- Most important posts/leaders of committees go to those with the most experience. • Subcommittee-groups that do most of the work & research for the standing committees- most bills go to subcommittees

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