THE US CONGRESS
Chapter 12, Sections 1 & 2
Congress Convenes- January 3.. Every
two years
Speaker of the House is chosen!
Speaker comes from majority
party!!!!
State of the Union, Pres., V.P. & Speaker…
Congress comes together every two years on January 3 of every odd-numbered
year. January 3, 2014 new session after November elections.
Once organized, the President gives a speech to both houses….
Presiding officers/leadership chosen
during party caucus…
Presiding Officers for Senate

Vice President = President of the Senate
 Can

preside & keep order, only votes when a tie
President pro tempore- in Senate
 Served
in VP’s absence, longest serving of majority party
 4th in line to presidency




Majority Leader
Majority Whip
Minority Leader
Minority Whip
Presiding Officers – House of Reps

Speaker of the House
 Most
powerful in Congress, acknowledged leader of
majority party, also 3rd in line to presidency
 Primary roles – to preside & keep order




Majority Leader
Majority Whip
Minority Leader
Minority Whip
Party Officers – both houses

Party caucus – closed meeting of that party
 Policy
committee – executive body of each caucus
 Other caucuses deal with particular issues
 Can belong to more than one caucus

Floor Leaders – also picked by the party
 Legislative
strategists that steer floor action to benefit the
party


Committee Chairmen – head the standing committees
All impacted by seniority rule – unwritten custom
How do committees help Congress do its work?
It’s all about committee & sub committees! Many bills are introduced to house &
committees each term. Few make it to floor for full review.
Standing Committees – permanent
20 in House, 16 in Senate
Special Committees-investigation
Watergate - Nixon
Lewinsky - Clinton
Joint Committees
Joint Committee-made up of members of
both House & Senate to advise
Important issues…
Conference Committee
Bills must be
passed by
both houses
(identical
forms) before
sent to
president.
What if both
houses cannot
pass in
identical
form?
Why do they serve on a committee?

Choose to serve on a particular committee…
1.
2.
3.


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
SECTIONS 3 & 4- STOP
HERE IF WE NEED TO.
What is a bill?
Next Section: Ch. 12 Sections 3 & 4
How does a bill become a law? Ideas for bills can come from citizens who write
their Congressmen, from business groups, parents, veterans etc.
What happens to a bill in the standing
committee? Is it important enough to
send to floor of Senate or House?
Pigeonholed = rejected by
committee, dead, not passed
Discharge Petition


Most Bills are
pigeonholed and
never passed,
If majority of house
sign a petition, bill can
go back to houses
again.
How does a bill (idea) become a law?
Committee Action is very
important…
President has 10 Days to sign or veto a bill & return to
Congress!
The Constitution grants the president 10 days to review a measure passed by the
Congress.
Presidential involvement….sign or veto! If he
veto’s it must be returned to Congress….possible
override.
President can sign bill & it law or
veto.
Congress can override veto with
2/3 vote in each house.
What if president does not return it to
Congress?

If President refuses to
return the bill to
Congress, it becomes
law in ten days
(excepting Sundays)
while Congress is in
session!!!
However, if Congress adjourns during the 10-day
period, the bill does not become law.
Veto’s and overrides…
Vocabulary Terms



quorum - The number of senators/house that must
be present to vote on a bill-majority plus 1senators (51), House-218 members
filibuster - term for any attempt to block or delay
vote on a bill, keep talking long enough to prevent
a vote on the bill. (Senate)
cloture - the Senate can vote to limit debate of a
bill, and overcome a filibuster. (3/5 of senate = 60
votes)
Vocabulary terms..


Subcommittee-groups that do most of the work &
research for the standing committees- most bills go to
subcommittees
ResolutionJoint- A proposal for action that has the force of law
 Concurrent- Senate & House work together




Rider- an unrelated “provision” added to an important
bill, so it will ride through and get passed.
Bill- a proposed new law
Congressional Record- record of all bills & votes…
110 Congress/Senate- Split? Who
had majority rule? Why?
STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE
VERY SIMILAR TO FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS.
PA General Assembly, 2012-2014
Republicans have majority in
House
State Legislature in PA- Similar to Federal Government
Structure Seats 253
50 Senators
Republicans control the Senate as well…
This is the status of Trifectas After the 2012 Election.
Pennsylvania, republicans hold the majority in both the House & Senate and our
governor is a republican. That may change in the November election, 2014.
Senator Dinniman with the Silva family at a recent event
in support of a Senate Bill 606- Aiden’s Law
What questions can you ask when Mr. Silva speaks to the class?
List of Seats for House & Senate for each state.