American CitizenshipAmerican Citizenship

Chapter 12Chapter 12

Congress in ActionCongress in Action

Section 1Section 1

Congress OrganizesCongress Organizes

Congress ConvenesCongress Convenes Begins a new term every two years, on January Begins a new term every two years, on January

3 of every odd-numbered years3 of every odd-numbered years Opening Day in the HouseOpening Day in the House

• All 435 representatives-elect meet together in the All 435 representatives-elect meet together in the House chamberHouse chamber

• Take roll then elect the Take roll then elect the speaker of the Housespeaker of the House Generally already agreed upon before the formal voteGenerally already agreed upon before the formal vote

• The Speaker takes the oath, then swears in the rest of The Speaker takes the oath, then swears in the rest of the 435 membersthe 435 members

Then Democrats and Republicans go to their respective Then Democrats and Republicans go to their respective sidessides

• Finally election of clerk, sergeant at arms, chief Finally election of clerk, sergeant at arms, chief administrative officer, and chaplain by House administrative officer, and chaplain by House membersmembers

And adoption of House rules for the termAnd adoption of House rules for the term

Congress Convenes (Con’t)Congress Convenes (Con’t)

Opening Day in the SenateOpening Day in the Senate• Senate is a continuous body that has Senate is a continuous body that has

been organized without interruption been organized without interruption since 1789since 1789

• Much more organized than the House Much more organized than the House due to only a third of the members due to only a third of the members being elected or reelected into the being elected or reelected into the Senate each electionSenate each election

Same basic pattern as House, just done Same basic pattern as House, just done more quicklymore quickly

Congress Convenes (Con’t)Congress Convenes (Con’t) State of the Union MessageState of the Union Message

• The House will inform the Senate, once they The House will inform the Senate, once they have been organizedhave been organized

Then both the House and Senate send a message to Then both the House and Senate send a message to the President that they are ready for any message the President that they are ready for any message the President might have for themthe President might have for them

Within a few weeks the President delivers the “State Within a few weeks the President delivers the “State of the Union Address”of the Union Address”

• House, Senate, Cabinet, Justices of the House, Senate, Cabinet, Justices of the Supreme Court, and more assemble in the Supreme Court, and more assemble in the House chamber to listen to the PresidentHouse chamber to listen to the President

President reports on the state of the nation as they President reports on the state of the nation as they see it, and set down both foreign and domestic public see it, and set down both foreign and domestic public policy goals for the yearpolicy goals for the year

The Presiding OfficersThe Presiding Officers The Speaker of the HouseThe Speaker of the House

• Most important and powerful position within Most important and powerful position within CongressCongress

Generally the leader of the majority partyGenerally the leader of the majority party• Expected to preside in a fair and judicious Expected to preside in a fair and judicious

manner, while also helping their parties manner, while also helping their parties legislative goalslegislative goals

Presides over every sessionPresides over every session Interpret rules and refers bills to committeesInterpret rules and refers bills to committees puts motions to a voteputs motions to a vote decides the outcome of most votes taken in the decides the outcome of most votes taken in the

househouse• Follows the Vice President in the line of Follows the Vice President in the line of

successionsuccession

The Presiding Officers (Con’t)The Presiding Officers (Con’t) The The President of the SenatePresident of the Senate

• The Constitution puts the Vice President as The Constitution puts the Vice President as the President of the Senatethe President of the Senate

Has the power of a presiding officer to recognize Has the power of a presiding officer to recognize members, put questions to a vote, etc.members, put questions to a vote, etc.

However, can not take the floor to speak or debate However, can not take the floor to speak or debate and may vote only when there is a tieand may vote only when there is a tie

• President Pro TemporePresident Pro Tempore is the presiding is the presiding officer who serves in the Vice President’s officer who serves in the Vice President’s absenceabsence

elected by the Senate and always a leading elected by the Senate and always a leading member of the majority partymember of the majority party

• Follows the Speaker of the House in the line Follows the Speaker of the House in the line of successionof succession

Party OfficersParty Officers

Congress is organized along party linesCongress is organized along party lines The The Party CaucusParty Caucus

• A closed meeting of the members of each A closed meeting of the members of each party in each houseparty in each house

• Meets before Congress convenes in January Meets before Congress convenes in January and occasionally during a sessionand occasionally during a session

deals mostly with matters of party organization, deals mostly with matters of party organization, selection of party’s floor leaders and committee selection of party’s floor leaders and committee membershipmembership

Party Officers (Con’t)Party Officers (Con’t) The The Floor LeadersFloor Leaders

• In Congress, behind the speaker, the majority In Congress, behind the speaker, the majority and minority floor leaders in the House and and minority floor leaders in the House and Senate are the most important officersSenate are the most important officers

not an official position in either chamber, but party not an official position in either chamber, but party positionspositions

they are legislative strategiststhey are legislative strategists

• Majority party leader is the more powerful Majority party leader is the more powerful position of the twoposition of the two

• The majority and minority party leaders are The majority and minority party leaders are assisted by the party assisted by the party whipswhips

basically assistant floor leadersbasically assistant floor leaders Check with party members on their votes on each Check with party members on their votes on each

bill and reports it back to the majority floor leaderbill and reports it back to the majority floor leader

Committee ChairmenCommittee Chairmen Bulk of Congress’ work is done through Bulk of Congress’ work is done through

committeecommittee• Committee chairmenCommittee chairmen are those member who head are those member who head

the standing committees in each chamberthe standing committees in each chamber chosen from the majority party by the majority party chosen from the majority party by the majority party

caucuscaucus Seniority RuleSeniority Rule

• An unwritten custom that the most important posts, in An unwritten custom that the most important posts, in both the formal and the party organization will be held both the formal and the party organization will be held by those party member with the longest records of by those party member with the longest records of service in Congressservice in Congress

Used especially with committee chairmen positionsUsed especially with committee chairmen positions

Committee Chairmen (Con’t)Committee Chairmen (Con’t)

Criticism of the Seniority RuleCriticism of the Seniority Rule• Negatively, it ignores ability and Negatively, it ignores ability and

discourages younger membersdiscourages younger members• Positively, ensures that a powerful and Positively, ensures that a powerful and

experienced member will head each experienced member will head each committeecommittee

Section 2Section 2

Committees in CongressCommittees in Congress

Standing CommitteesStanding Committees A permanent panel to which all similar A permanent panel to which all similar

bills could be sentbills could be sent• Generally handle bills dealing with particular Generally handle bills dealing with particular

policy matterspolicy matters Committee AssignmentsCommittee Assignments

• Each House committee has from 9 to 75 Each House committee has from 9 to 75 membersmembers

• Each Senate committee has from 12 to 28 Each Senate committee has from 12 to 28 membersmembers

The majority party always holds a majority of the The majority party always holds a majority of the seats on each standing committeeseats on each standing committee

However the other party is well represented as wellHowever the other party is well represented as well• Most bills receive their most thorough debate Most bills receive their most thorough debate

in the standing committeesin the standing committees Generally the members of Congress follows the Generally the members of Congress follows the

recommendations of the standing committeesrecommendations of the standing committees

Standing Committees (Con’t)Standing Committees (Con’t) Committee Assignments (Con’t)Committee Assignments (Con’t)

• Prominent House standing committees are:Prominent House standing committees are: Rules, Ways and MeansRules, Ways and Means AppropriationsAppropriations Armed ServicesArmed Services JudiciaryJudiciary

• Prominent Senate standing committees are:Prominent Senate standing committees are: Foreign RelationsForeign Relations AppropriationsAppropriations FinanceFinance JudiciaryJudiciary Armed ServicesArmed Services

• When a bill is introduced, it is sent to the When a bill is introduced, it is sent to the appropriate standing committeeappropriate standing committee

The standing committee is also made up of The standing committee is also made up of subcommitteessubcommittees

Standing Committees (Con’t)Standing Committees (Con’t) Committee Assignments (Con’t)Committee Assignments (Con’t)

• The House Rules CommitteeThe House Rules Committee After a bill is pass from the standing After a bill is pass from the standing

committee, before it goes to the floor, it is committee, before it goes to the floor, it is sent to the Rules Committeesent to the Rules Committee

They interpret how the bill will do with all They interpret how the bill will do with all the House membersthe House members

• Select CommitteesSelect Committees Special committees, or panels, that are set Special committees, or panels, that are set

up for some specific purpose for a limited up for some specific purpose for a limited timetime

Generally formed to investigate a current Generally formed to investigate a current mattermatter• Example: Senate Watergate CommitteeExample: Senate Watergate Committee

Joint and Conference Joint and Conference CommitteesCommittees

Compose of members of both housesCompose of members of both houses• Set up to serve some temporary purposeSet up to serve some temporary purpose

Before a bill may be sent to the Before a bill may be sent to the President, each house must pass it in President, each house must pass it in identical formidentical form

• the two houses pass differing versions and the two houses pass differing versions and the two houses cannot agree on changesthe two houses cannot agree on changes

• Conference CommitteeConference Committee is created to iron is created to iron out the differences and create a compromise out the differences and create a compromise billbill

A temporary, joint bodyA temporary, joint body

Section 3Section 3

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The How a Bill Becomes a Law: The HouseHouse

The First StepsThe First Steps

A A billbill is a proposed law presented is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for to the House or Senate for considerationconsideration

• Generally they are proposed by the Generally they are proposed by the executive branchexecutive branch

• Others also born from private citizens Others also born from private citizens or from standing committeesor from standing committees

The First Steps (Con’t)The First Steps (Con’t)

Types of Bills and ResolutionsTypes of Bills and Resolutions• Two different Types:Two different Types:

Public BillsPublic Bills• Measures applying to the nation as a wholeMeasures applying to the nation as a whole

Private BillsPrivate Bills• Measures that apply to certain person or places Measures that apply to certain person or places

rather than to the entire nationrather than to the entire nation

The First Steps (Con’t)The First Steps (Con’t) Two different Types: (Con’t)Two different Types: (Con’t)

• Resolution types:Resolution types: Joint ResolutionJoint Resolution

• Similar to bills and when pass have the force of Similar to bills and when pass have the force of lawlaw

• Generally about dealing with unusual or Generally about dealing with unusual or temporary matterstemporary matters

Concurrent ResolutionConcurrent Resolution• Deal with matters in which the House and Deal with matters in which the House and

Senate must act jointlySenate must act jointly ResolutionsResolutions deal with matters concerning deal with matters concerning

either house alone and are taken up only either house alone and are taken up only by that houseby that house• Does not have the force of law and is not sent to Does not have the force of law and is not sent to

the President for approvalthe President for approval

The First Steps (Con’t)The First Steps (Con’t) Two different Types: (Con’t)Two different Types: (Con’t)

• Generally Resolutions or Bills deal with a Generally Resolutions or Bills deal with a single subjectsingle subject

Sometimes contains Sometimes contains ridersriders• A provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is A provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is

attached to an important measure certain to passattached to an important measure certain to pass• ““Pork Barrel” spending on appropriations billsPork Barrel” spending on appropriations bills

The First Steps (Con’t)The First Steps (Con’t)

The First ReadingThe First Reading• The clerk of the House numbers each The clerk of the House numbers each

bill as it is introducedbill as it is introduced ExamplesExamples

• H.R. 3410 would be the 3,400th measure H.R. 3410 would be the 3,400th measure introduced in the House during the introduced in the House during the congressional termcongressional term

• S. 210 would be the 210 measure introduced in S. 210 would be the 210 measure introduced in the Senate during the congressional termthe Senate during the congressional term

The First Steps (Con’t)The First Steps (Con’t)

The First ReadingThe First Reading• Each Bill also gets a short titleEach Bill also gets a short title

And goes into the And goes into the JournalJournal, which contains , which contains the minutesthe minutes

Also goes into the Also goes into the Congressional RecordCongressional Record, a , a daily volume of eventsdaily volume of events

• Then Bills are read to the HouseThen Bills are read to the House Must be read three times before final voteMust be read three times before final vote

• After the first reading, the bill is sent After the first reading, the bill is sent to the appropriate standing committeeto the appropriate standing committee

The Bill in CommitteeThe Bill in Committee

The Constitution does not call for The Constitution does not call for standing committees, however they are standing committees, however they are vital to the ability for congress to pass vital to the ability for congress to pass and discuss public policy issuesand discuss public policy issues

Most Bills introduced into Congress are Most Bills introduced into Congress are pigeonholed, or die in committeepigeonholed, or die in committee

• However there can be a However there can be a discharge petitiondischarge petition enables members to force a bill that has remained enables members to force a bill that has remained

in committee 30 days onto the floor for in committee 30 days onto the floor for considerationconsideration

The Bill in Committee (Con’t)The Bill in Committee (Con’t)

Gathering InformationGathering Information• Most committees do most of their work Most committees do most of their work

through their several through their several subcommitteessubcommittees division of existing committees formed to address division of existing committees formed to address

specific issuesspecific issues

• Many times committees or subcommittees Many times committees or subcommittees hold public hearings on the measures they hold public hearings on the measures they are consideringare considering

Example: Major League Baseball and SteroidsExample: Major League Baseball and Steroids

• Sometimes subcommittee members take Sometimes subcommittee members take trips to the areas under considerationtrips to the areas under consideration

The Bill in Committee (Con’t)The Bill in Committee (Con’t)

Committee ActionsCommittee Actions• Once subcommittee has completed it Once subcommittee has completed it

work, the bill is sent to the full work, the bill is sent to the full standing committeestanding committee

• They may then do:They may then do: Report the bill favorably… “Do Pass”Report the bill favorably… “Do Pass” Refuse to report the billRefuse to report the bill Report the bill in amended formReport the bill in amended form Report the bill with an unfavorable Report the bill with an unfavorable

recommendationrecommendation Report a committee billReport a committee bill

• Substitute with a different billSubstitute with a different bill

Scheduling Floor DebateScheduling Floor Debate Bills are scheduled when it will be taken Bills are scheduled when it will be taken

to the floorto the floor CalendarsCalendars

• Types:Types: Union calendars for all bills having to do with Union calendars for all bills having to do with

revenues, appropriations, or government propertyrevenues, appropriations, or government property House Calendar for all other public billsHouse Calendar for all other public bills The Private Calendar for all private billsThe Private Calendar for all private bills Corrections CalendarCorrections Calendar Discharge CalendarDischarge Calendar

• Each calendar determines when certain bills Each calendar determines when certain bills types are considered on the floortypes are considered on the floor

The Bill on the FloorThe Bill on the Floor If a bill finally reaches the floor, it If a bill finally reaches the floor, it

receives its second reading in the Housereceives its second reading in the House• Sometimes just the title is readSometimes just the title is read

Important measures are dealt with the Important measures are dealt with the consideration of the consideration of the Committee of the Committee of the WholeWhole

• All the members of the House, however not All the members of the House, however not all the rules of a normal House meetingall the rules of a normal House meeting

• Once the Committee of the Whole comes to Once the Committee of the Whole comes to an agreement, it is resolved and the House an agreement, it is resolved and the House resumes it’s session where they adopt the resumes it’s session where they adopt the committee’s workcommittee’s work

The Bill on the Floor (Con’t)The Bill on the Floor (Con’t) DebateDebate

• Due to it’s size, the Speaker of the Due to it’s size, the Speaker of the House has the ability to limit the length House has the ability to limit the length at which someone speaks on the floorat which someone speaks on the floor

The Bill on the Floor (Con’t)The Bill on the Floor (Con’t) VotingVoting

• A bill may be the subject of several A bill may be the subject of several votes on the floorvotes on the floor

• Four different methods for taking floor Four different methods for taking floor votesvotes

Voice votes… “Aye” and “Noes”Voice votes… “Aye” and “Noes” Standing VotesStanding Votes One fifth of a quorum can demand a teller One fifth of a quorum can demand a teller

vote, which is now a computerized voting vote, which is now a computerized voting machinemachine

• Least number of representatives present in order Least number of representatives present in order to conduct business… majorityto conduct business… majority

A roll-call voteA roll-call vote

The Bill on the Floor (Con’t)The Bill on the Floor (Con’t)

Final StepsFinal Steps• Once approved at the second reading, Once approved at the second reading,

it is it is engrossedengrossed bill is printed in its final formbill is printed in its final form

• Read a third time, by title, and a final Read a third time, by title, and a final vote is takenvote is taken

Section 4Section 4

The Bill in the SenateThe Bill in the Senate

Introducing the BillIntroducing the Bill

Much similarity between the House Much similarity between the House and the Senate, with a few critical and the Senate, with a few critical differencesdifferences

Introduced by senators, titled and Introduced by senators, titled and numbered, read twice, and referred numbered, read twice, and referred to committeeto committee

• Overall the same, but less formalOverall the same, but less formal There is only one calendarThere is only one calendar Bills are called to the floor by the majority Bills are called to the floor by the majority

floor leader whenever they wantfloor leader whenever they want

Rules for DebateRules for Debate Floor debate is almost unrestrained in Floor debate is almost unrestrained in

the Senatethe Senate• They may speak as along as they chooseThey may speak as along as they choose

Most debates are ended by unanimous Most debates are ended by unanimous consent agreement, which brings about consent agreement, which brings about a votea vote

The The FilibusterFilibuster• A stalling tactic, a process in which a A stalling tactic, a process in which a

minority of senators seeks to delay or minority of senators seeks to delay or prevent Senate action on a measureprevent Senate action on a measure

Used to delay or encourage change to specific billsUsed to delay or encourage change to specific bills• Used to kill over 200 bills over the yearsUsed to kill over 200 bills over the years

Rules for Debate (Con’t)Rules for Debate (Con’t)

The The Cloture RuleCloture Rule• Senates real check on the filibuster is Senates real check on the filibuster is

the Cloture Rule, Rule XXII, which the Cloture Rule, Rule XXII, which provides for clotureprovides for cloture

limiting debatelimiting debate Ultimately limiting floor time spent on a Ultimately limiting floor time spent on a

measure to 30 hoursmeasure to 30 hours

Conference CommitteesConference Committees Any bill enacted by Congress must have Any bill enacted by Congress must have

been passed by both houses in identical been passed by both houses in identical formform

• Generally if the Senate amends the bill, then Generally if the Senate amends the bill, then the House will consider the changes, and the House will consider the changes, and accept the revised billaccept the revised bill

• However, if the House is unwilling to change, However, if the House is unwilling to change, the measure it turned over to a conference the measure it turned over to a conference committeecommittee

seeks to iron out differences in measuresseeks to iron out differences in measures Once the conference committee agree, Once the conference committee agree,

the compromise bill is sent to both the the compromise bill is sent to both the House and Senate must pass it without House and Senate must pass it without changeschanges

The President ActsThe President Acts The President has four options once The President has four options once

Congress has presented a billCongress has presented a bill• May sign the bill, and it becomes lawMay sign the bill, and it becomes law• May May vetoveto the bill the bill

Refuse to sign the billRefuse to sign the bill Bill is then returned to the house in which it started, Bill is then returned to the house in which it started,

and then congress may pass the bill over the veto and then congress may pass the bill over the veto with a two-thirds vote of the full membership of each with a two-thirds vote of the full membership of each HouseHouse

• The President may allow the bill to become law The President may allow the bill to become law without signing it, by not acting on it within 10 without signing it, by not acting on it within 10 days of receiving itdays of receiving it

• If Congress adjourns its session within 10 days If Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the measure dies… President does not act, the measure dies… known as a known as a pocket vetopocket veto