Congressional Leadership

2014

Vice-President

President of the Senate = Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden

Presiding Officer of Senate, rarely in attendance.

Can cast tie breaking vote.

US Senate

Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid (D-NV)

Gets to be recognized first in debate

Congressional LeadershipUS Senate

Majority Whip - Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)

Organizes party for important votesEncourages party line votingSends out info on daily legislation

Congressional LeadershipUS Senate

Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Heads the opposition. Tries to accomplish the legislative goals of Republicans

Congressional LeadershipUS Senate

Minority Whip – John Cornyn (R-TX)Guides legislation through Congress

by trying to secure key votes

Congressional LeadershipUS Senate

President pro Tempore – Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Position of honor usually given to senator of Majority Party w/ most seniority

Presides when President of Senate is not there

Often hands it over to junior senator

Important Chairpersons

Commerce – John D. Rockefeller IV

Foreign Relations - Robert Menendez

Armed Services – Carl Levin

Congressional LeadershipHouse of Representatives

Speaker of the House - John A. Boehner (R-OH-8th)

Principal leader of majority party - voted in.Chairs Steering Committee (assigns Reps

and influences who will be a chair)

Congressional LeadershipHouse of Representatives

Majority Leader - Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-22nd)

Develops issues and policies for Republican party

Schedules legislative agenda (selects bills for consideration and timing)

Congressional LeadershipHouse of Representatives

Majority Whip - Steve Scalise (R-LA-1st)

Helps party leader keep up with thoughts of his party members

Rounds up members for important votes

Congressional Leadership - House of Representatives

Minority Leader - Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA-8th)

Responsible for setting up Democratic agenda and heading the opposition to the majority party

Spokesperson for party

Congressional LeadershipHouse of Representatives

Minority Whip - Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-5th) Mobilizes the party vote on important legislation

Role of the Whip: Can be traced back to the United Kingdom's Parliament which adopted the term Whip from the fox-hunting position, ‘whipper-in,' or the person who kept the fox hounds focused on their mission.

Other Chairpersons

House Ways and Means – Dave Camp

House Appropriations – Hal Rogers

Pennsylvania’s Senators

Bob Casey (2006) Patrick Toomey (2010)

Jim Gerlach (2002)

Patrick Meehan (2010)