Assignments/Agenda

1. Assignments/Agenda • Committees Worksheet • Due Monday April 23rd, 2001 • After PowerPoint and all of tomorrow we will be watching • Mr. Smith Goes To Washington • You can bring in snacks for tomorrow • There will be no break

2. Organization of Congress

3. How Congress Is Organized • Beginning with the 1st Congress in 1789, each Congress has been identified by a number. • We currently have the 107th Congress

4. Terms and Sessions • In each term of Congress there are 2 regular sessions. • They always start on January 3rd. • They usually end in August/September, but in recent years the growing workload has caused them to stay in session later. • Sometimes serious problems occur after adjournment, so special sessions have to be called. President calls.

5. Terms and Sessions • Sometimes Congress will meet together. • This is known as a joint session. • For example, this is the type of session that exists when the President wants to address Congress • State of the Union Address

6. Party Caucuses • The Constitution provides for only 3 Congressional Officers • Speaker of the House • Vice President heads Senate • President Pro Tempore • Shortly after January 3rd, party members meet in private meetings called caucuses.

7. Caucuses • At these private meetings Republicans and Democrats choose their own leaders. • The political party that has more members in each house is known as the majority • The political party that has fewer members is called the minority party.

8. Speaker of the House • The Presiding Officer of the House is known as the Speaker of the House. • He is the most powerful person in the House • No person can speak until called upon • Has great influence in deciding the order of business • THE SPEAKER IS ALWAYS A MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY. • Usually a long time member of Congress

9. House Floor Leaders • Democrats/Republicans also choose floor leaders and party whips. • The FLOOR LEADER of each party guides the party’s proposed laws thru Congress • The floor leader of the majority party is called the Majority Leader. (vice versa) • Each floor leader is assisted by a party whip who tries to persuade members to vote for party-sponsored legislation

10. President of the Senate • The VICE PRESIDENT serves as the presiding officer in the Senate. • However, the Vice President is not a Senator and therefore cannot take part in debates. • He can only vote in case of a tie (50-50) • During recent years the VP has had more and more duties and has little time left for Senate proceedings

11. President Pro Tempore • The President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate during a Vice President’s absence. • Elected by members of the Senate • Is the longest serving member of the majority party (seniority).

12. Senate Floor Leaders • The Senate has the same floor leaders as the House of Representatives. • Majority Leader • Minority Leader • Party Whips

13. Congress and Committees • Congress deals with 10,000 bills per year • It would be impossible for each house to consider all of these bills • Therefore, the members divide their work among many smaller groups, or committees. • Most of the work done in Congress is done in Committees

14. Committee Proceedings • The congressional committees study all bills before they are considered by Congress. • To get information needed to do their work, committees hold meetings and conduct investigations.

15. Types of Committees • There are 5 Types of Committees in Congress, all of which are special: • Standing Committees • Subcommittees • Select Committees • Joint Committees • Conference Committees

16. Standing Committees • These are permanent committees found in each house. • Look at the chart on Committees • Senate = 16 • House = 22 • Each committee is responsible for a specific area. • EXAMPLE: Ways & Means handles taxes

17. Standing Committees • Before a bill goes to Congress it is carefully studied by the appropriate standing committee. • Committee members hold hearings to gain information on a bill • They may revise a bill • The bill is then sent to the entire Congress for consideration, with recommendation for/against the bill by the committee.

18. Subcommittees • Each standing committee is divided into subcommittees. • These subcommittees deal with specific issues handled by the committee as a whole • EXAMPLE: The subcommittees of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee include those on Africa, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere

19. Select Committees • Select committees are appointed committees to deal with issues that are not handled by standing committees. • EXAMPLE: Government Scandals • Make recommendations on solutions to problem • Once their work is finished they are disbanded.

20. Joint Committees • Made up of equal members from both houses • Set up when both houses decide they can take care of certain matters by working together • EXAMPLE: Taxation Committee

21. Conference Committees • This is formed to work out a compromise when the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill • Each conference committee is temporary and considers only one bill

22. Membership on Committees • Each member of the House serves on only 1 major standing committee. • This enables them to specialize in one subject area • Each member of the Senate serves on at least 2 major standing committees • Members of Congress eagerly seek positions on the most important committees

23. Membership on Committees • The membership of the standing committee is divided in proportion to the number of members each party has in each house • EXAMPLE: If the Senate contains 60 Republicans and 40 Democrats, a 10 member committee would have 6 Rep. And 4 Dem. • Thus the majority party has a great advantage and is able to control the committee’s work

24. Membership on Committees • The Committee on Committees nominates party members to serve on committees. • Then a party caucus reviews the nominations • Loyal party members and longtime members of Congress are rewarded with important committee assignments.

25. Committee Chairpersons • Since Congressional Committees are so important, their chairpersons are powerful • They decide when a committee will meet and hold hearings • Create subcommittees • Hire/Fire committee staff • Chairpersons importance gives them great influence in Congress

26. Committee Chairpersons • These positions are chosen based upon the seniority system • This assures experienced leadership • The majority party in each house chooses the heads of committees by secret vote in the party caucus. • The person with the longest service almost always wins