The Senate and House of Representatives

Mr. LawrenceAm. Gov’t

Structure of Congress Bicameral Legislator

A Two House Legislator The Great Compromise

Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could not be ignored

Rules of the Houses Each house issues a book of complex rules to

govern Congressional Proceedings. These rules are Developed by the Rules Committee

of each house These are the most important Committees in each

houseThe Senates Rules:• Creates an informal

atmosphere• Geared towards

allowing Senators to freely express their ideas

The House of Reps’ Rules:• Creates strict and

efficient atmosphere• Allows for the quick

movement of laws through the House of Reps

Importance of Political Parties in Congress Party Politics play a very important role in

Congress

The Parties elect their own leaders and vote along the same lines

Division between the two groups is so strong that they sit separately Democrats on the Left Republicans on the Right

Leadership in the Houses

Each House of Congress has specific leadership roles that must be filled at the start of every session of Congress

These Leaders Have Six Duties:1. Organize and Unify Party Members2. Scheduling 3. Making sure members are present for key votes4. Distributing and Collecting Information5. Keep communication between their house and

the President6. Influence Congressmen on how to vote

House of Reps. Leadership

Speaker of the House: The Head Honcho Chosen by a Caucus: Closed meeting of Majority

Party Members Member of the Majority Party Approved by the entire House of Reps after the

Caucus Duties include

Recognizes members to speak Scheduling Enforces the Rules Create Committees Communicating with the President

House of Reps. Leadership Cont.Floor Leaders

Majority and Minority Party Leaders The Leaders of their Parties on the House Floor Duties include:

Supporting the Speaker of the House Organizing Party Members

Party Whips and Deputy Whips The Assists to the Party leaders Duties Include

Drumming up support in the Parties Informing Party Members The Eyes and Ears of the Party Leaders

Kevin McCarthy

Nancy Pelosi

Senate Leaders

The Vice President The Leader of the Senate according to the

Constitution However he has no power in the Senate other then to

organize Senate discussion and break ties President Pro Tempore

Means “President for the Time Being” Usually the Longest Serving member of the Majority

Party Duties Include:

Organizing Debates Scheduling Communicating with the President

Daniel Inouye

Senate Leaders Cont.Floor Leaders Majority and Minority Party Leaders

Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps

Party Whips and Deputy Whips Fulfills many of the same roles as their

counterparts in the House of Reps

The Filibuster A Product of the Unlimited Debate rule in the

Senate

A Filibuster is when a Senator delays a vote by speaking for hours on end

Filibusters can only be Broken by a 3/5 vote of the Senate (60 members)