Congressional Leadership
House
Senate
Speaker of the House: Elected Vice President of the United
by majority party
States
President Pro Tempore: Senior
member of the majority party
Majority/Minority Floor
Leader
Majority/Minority Floor
Leader
Majority/Minority Whip
Majority/Minority Whip
Congressional Committees
Standing Committeescontinue from one
congress to the next,
unless special action is
taken to eliminate
them.
Ex. Agriculture,
Budget
May use
subcommittee
Congressional Committees
Select Committee:
Appointed to study a
particular problem.
Ex. HUAC
Action is taken to
eliminate them when
they are no longer
needed.
Congressional Committees
Joint Committee:
made up of members
of both chambers.
Ex. Joint Committee
on Taxation.
Congressional Committees
Conference Committee:
appointed by the House of
Representatives and Senate
to resolve disagreements on a
particular bill.
How to get on a committee:
Strong ties to constituency
Ask to be appointed to committees
Appointed by committee of committees
Try to balance out the number of
committees and their importance
Chairmanship usually based on Seniority
How a bill becomes a law
School House Rock
video
Bill is put into the hopper
Sent to Subcommittee
Sent to Full Committee
House Rules
Floor Debate
Conference Committee
Back to Full House
President
Making laws
Major bills-have an
impact on all people of
the United States
Pork barrel-have an
impact on the people in
your district
Earmarks-directs
approved funds to be
spent on specific projects
Rider-additional provision
added to a bill
Congressional Influence
Voters
Constituents
Staff members
Committee Report
Colleagues
Reciprocal agreements
President
Lobbyists and special
interest groups
Scrambled Outline:
How a House Bill Becomes a Law
If the Senate approves, then on to the President
Floor Debate before the full house
The bill is put into the hopper
House Rules Committee
Considered by Full Committee
Back to the full House for final approval
House-Senate Conference Committee
Bill is sent to the proper subcommittee
Answers to scrambled outline
The bill is put into the hopper
Bill is sent to the proper subcommittee
Considered by full committee
House rules committee
Floor debate before the full house
House-Senate Conference Committee
Back to the full House for final approval
If the Senate approves, then on to the President