Congress In Action

Congress In ActionMagruder Chapter 12Magruder Chapter 12

Congress Organizes

Section OneSection One

Congress Convenes

Opening day in the HouseOpening day in the House On opening day of a new term, a clerk On opening day of a new term, a clerk

calls the chamber to order and checks the calls the chamber to order and checks the role of newly elected representativesrole of newly elected representatives

The members-to-be choose a Speaker, The members-to-be choose a Speaker, who takes the oath of office and swears who takes the oath of office and swears in the rest of the membersin the rest of the members

Congress Convenes The House elects a clerk, sergeant-at-The House elects a clerk, sergeant-at-

arms, doorkeeper, postmaster, and arms, doorkeeper, postmaster, and chaplain, and then adopts rules and chaplain, and then adopts rules and organizes committeesorganizes committees

Congress Convenes

Opening Day in the SenateOpening Day in the Senate As a continuous body with only one-third As a continuous body with only one-third

new membership each term, the Senate new membership each term, the Senate does not undertake extensive re-does not undertake extensive re-organizing. Instead, newly elected and organizing. Instead, newly elected and re-elected members are sworn in and re-elected members are sworn in and vacancies filled.vacancies filled.

Congress Convenes

The President’s State of the Union MessageThe President’s State of the Union Message In this constitutionally mandated speech, In this constitutionally mandated speech,

the president reports on the state of the the president reports on the state of the nation,outlines the shape of the nation,outlines the shape of the administration’s policies and plans, and administration’s policies and plans, and also may recommend specific legislative also may recommend specific legislative actions.actions.

The Presiding Officers

The Speaker of the House is the most The Speaker of the House is the most influential member of the House of influential member of the House of Representatives and has two duties:Representatives and has two duties: Preside over all sessionsPreside over all sessions Keep orderKeep order

The Speaker is allowed to debate and vote The Speaker is allowed to debate and vote on any matteron any matter

The Presiding Officers If he chooses to vote, a Speaker If he chooses to vote, a Speaker pro pro

temporetempore must be appointed temporarily must be appointed temporarily The Speaker rarely votes except to break The Speaker rarely votes except to break

or cause a tie. In the case of a tie, he is or cause a tie. In the case of a tie, he is requiredrequired to vote. to vote.

The Speaker of the House is J. Dennis The Speaker of the House is J. Dennis Hastert (R, IL)Hastert (R, IL)


According to the Constitution, the president According to the Constitution, the president of the Senate is the Vice President of the of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.United States.

The president of the Senate recognizes The president of the Senate recognizes members, puts questions to a vote, and so members, puts questions to a vote, and so on, but may not vote on, but may not vote exceptexcept to break a tie. to break a tie.


In the Vice President’s absence, a president In the Vice President’s absence, a president pro temporepro tempore, who is elected by the Senate , who is elected by the Senate and is a member of the majority party, and is a member of the majority party, presidespresides

The president of the Senate is Richard The president of the Senate is Richard Cheney (R, WY)Cheney (R, WY)

The president The president pro temporepro tempore is Ted Stevens is Ted Stevens (R, AK)(R, AK)

Floor Leaders

The Floor LeadersThe Floor Leaders The Floor Leaders in both the House and The Floor Leaders in both the House and

the Senate consist of a majority and the Senate consist of a majority and minority floor leader, chosen by party minority floor leader, chosen by party colleaguescolleagues

The assistants of floor leaders are called The assistants of floor leaders are called “whips”“whips”

Floor Leaders - House

The Majority Floor LeaderThe Majority Floor Leader John Boehner (R, OH)John Boehner (R, OH)

The Minority Floor LeaderThe Minority Floor Leader Nancy Pelosi (D, CA)Nancy Pelosi (D, CA)

Floor Leaders - House

The Majority WhipThe Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R, MO)Roy Blunt (R, MO)

The Minority WhipThe Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D, MD)Steny Hoyer (D, MD)

Floor Leaders - Senate

The Majority Floor LeaderThe Majority Floor Leader Bill Frist (R, TN)Bill Frist (R, TN)

The Minority Floor LeaderThe Minority Floor Leader Harry Reid (D, NV)Harry Reid (D, NV)

Floor Leaders - Senate

The Majority WhipThe Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R, KY)Mitch McConnell (R, KY)

The Minority WhipThe Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D, IL)Richard Durbin (D, IL)

Floor Leaders

The Party Caucus – these are closed The Party Caucus – these are closed meetings of each party in each house and meetings of each party in each house and deal with party organization, selection of deal with party organization, selection of floor leaders, and committee membershipfloor leaders, and committee membership

Committee Chairmen

The committee chairmen decide when their The committee chairmen decide when their committees will meet, which bills they will committees will meet, which bills they will consider, whether they will hold public consider, whether they will hold public hearings, and what witnesses to callhearings, and what witnesses to call

Committee Chairmen

The Seniority RuleThe Seniority Rule By unwritten custom, most important By unwritten custom, most important

posts are awarded according to the length posts are awarded according to the length of serviceof service

Committee Chairmen Criticism of the Seniority Rule – Critics Criticism of the Seniority Rule – Critics

of the seniority rule maintain that the rule of the seniority rule maintain that the rule ignores ability, discourages young ignores ability, discourages young members, and encourages constant re-members, and encourages constant re-election of “stale” members; defenders election of “stale” members; defenders say that the rule ensures experience in say that the rule ensures experience in key posts and minimizes conflict within key posts and minimizes conflict within the partythe party

Committees in Congress

Standing Committees

Standing Committees are permanent groups Standing Committees are permanent groups to which all similar bills are sentto which all similar bills are sent

Today there are 19 standing committees in Today there are 19 standing committees in the House and 17 in the Senatethe House and 17 in the Senate

The Speaker of the House or the President The Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate is responsible for assigning of the Senate is responsible for assigning bills to the appropriate committeebills to the appropriate committee

The House Rules Committee

This committee manages the flow of bills This committee manages the flow of bills for action by the full House by scheduling for action by the full House by scheduling their considerationtheir consideration

Because the Senate has less formal Because the Senate has less formal organization, the majority floor leader organization, the majority floor leader controls the appearance of bills on the floorcontrols the appearance of bills on the floor

Select Committees

Select committees are special groups set up Select committees are special groups set up for specific purposes and for a limited for specific purposes and for a limited period whose members are appointed by the period whose members are appointed by the Speaker or the president of the SenateSpeaker or the president of the Senate

Occasionally, a select committee conducts Occasionally, a select committee conducts especially important investigations, for especially important investigations, for example, the Senate Watergate Committee example, the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973in 1973

Joint and Conference Committees A joint committee is one composed of A joint committee is one composed of

members from both houses and is organized members from both houses and is organized to deal with issues of common concern; to deal with issues of common concern; some are permanent, such the joint some are permanent, such the joint committee on the Library of Congress, committee on the Library of Congress, others are temporaryothers are temporary

Joint and Conference Committees Conference committees are temporary Conference committees are temporary

committees, organized to resolve committees, organized to resolve differences in similar bills passed in both differences in similar bills passed in both houses and to produce a compromise bill houses and to produce a compromise bill acceptable to both housesacceptable to both houses

How a Bill Becomes Law

The House of Representatives

Creating and Introducing Bills

Most bills do not originate with members of Most bills do not originate with members of Congress but in the executive branch, in Congress but in the executive branch, in special interest groups, or with private special interest groups, or with private citizenscitizens

All revenue-raising bills must begin in the All revenue-raising bills must begin in the House; all other bills may be introduced in House; all other bills may be introduced in either chambereither chamber

Types of Bills and Resolutions

Bills – These are proposed laws presented Bills – These are proposed laws presented to Congress. to Congress. Public bills apply to the entire nationPublic bills apply to the entire nation Private bills pertain to certain persons or Private bills pertain to certain persons or

placesplaces


Joint ResolutionsJoint Resolutions These deal with temporary or unusual These deal with temporary or unusual

mattersmatters Have the force of lawHave the force of law Must be passed by both housesMust be passed by both houses Must be signed by the PresidentMust be signed by the President


Concurrent ResolutionsConcurrent Resolutions Deal with common concerns of both Deal with common concerns of both

houseshouses Do not have the force of lawDo not have the force of law Do not require the President’s signatureDo not require the President’s signature State Congress’ opinion on a matterState Congress’ opinion on a matter


ResolutionsResolutions These deal with matters concerning either These deal with matters concerning either

house alonehouse alone They usually are concerned with house They usually are concerned with house

rulesrules Do not require the President’s signatureDo not require the President’s signature

The First Reading

Each bill must be read three timesEach bill must be read three times The first reading of a bill consists of the The first reading of a bill consists of the

assignment of a house number, a short title, assignment of a house number, a short title, and entry into the House and entry into the House JournalJournal and the and the Congressional RecordCongressional Record for the day for the day

The Speaker then assigns the bill to the The Speaker then assigns the bill to the appropriate standing committee for appropriate standing committee for considerationconsideration

The Bill in Committee

Most committee work is done by Most committee work is done by subcommittees which investigate, debate, subcommittees which investigate, debate, and recommend the fate of particular billsand recommend the fate of particular bills

After subcommittees complete their work, After subcommittees complete their work, the measure returns to the full committeethe measure returns to the full committee The full committee may report the bill The full committee may report the bill

favorably to the full Housefavorably to the full House

The Bill in Committee The full committee may report the bill The full committee may report the bill

unfavorablyunfavorably The full committee may refuse to report The full committee may refuse to report

the bill, or pigeonhole itthe bill, or pigeonhole it The full committee may report an The full committee may report an

amended billamended bill The full committee may report an entirely The full committee may report an entirely

new billnew bill

Rules and Calendars

Before reaching the floor of the House, a Before reaching the floor of the House, a bill must be placed on one of several bill must be placed on one of several calendars, or schedules, for deliberationcalendars, or schedules, for deliberation Calendar of the Committee of the Whole Calendar of the Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the UnionHouse on the State of the UnionUnion CalendarUnion Calendar

House Calendar for all other Public BillsHouse Calendar for all other Public Bills

Rules and Calendars Calendar of the Committee of the Whole Calendar of the Committee of the Whole

HouseHousePrivate CalendarPrivate Calendar

The Consent CalendarThe Consent Calendar The Discharge CalendarThe Discharge Calendar

Rules and Calendars

In order to be debated on the floor, each bill In order to be debated on the floor, each bill must receive a rule, or approval for its must receive a rule, or approval for its appearance on the floor (unless the bill is appearance on the floor (unless the bill is privileged or the rules have been privileged or the rules have been suspended)suspended)

The Bill on the Floor

Most important bills are considered in the Most important bills are considered in the Committee of the WholeCommittee of the Whole

Debate – strict rules limit the length of each Debate – strict rules limit the length of each individual’s debateindividual’s debate

Voting – a bill requires formal House vote Voting – a bill requires formal House vote on it and on various amendments that might on it and on various amendments that might be attached to itbe attached to it

The Bill on the Floor Voice votes are the most commonVoice votes are the most common Standing vote if any member thinks the Standing vote if any member thinks the

Speaker may have erredSpeaker may have erred One-fifth of a quorum may demand a One-fifth of a quorum may demand a

teller voteteller vote A roll-call vote may be demanded by A roll-call vote may be demanded by

one-fifth of the membersone-fifth of the members

The Bill on the Floor

Electronic voting systemElectronic voting system 48 stations around the House48 stations around the House Have 15 minutes to voteHave 15 minutes to vote ““yea”, “nay”, or “present”yea”, “nay”, or “present” Creates a written record of votesCreates a written record of votes Saved three months a year of votingSaved three months a year of voting

Final Steps

An approved bill is engrossed, read a third An approved bill is engrossed, read a third time, voted on again, and signed by the time, voted on again, and signed by the SpeakerSpeaker

A signed bill is then sent to the president of A signed bill is then sent to the president of the Senatethe Senate

The Bill in the Senate

Introducing the Bill in the Senate

Bills are introduced by senators in personBills are introduced by senators in person Each bill is given a numberEach bill is given a number Each bill is given a titleEach bill is given a title The bill is read twiceThe bill is read twice The bill is referred to the appropriate The bill is referred to the appropriate

standing committeestanding committee

Introducing the Bill in the Senate

Senate proceedings are less formal than Senate proceedings are less formal than those of the Housethose of the House

The Senate has only one calendarThe Senate has only one calendar The bills are called to the floor by the The bills are called to the floor by the

majority floor leadermajority floor leader

The Senate’s Rules for Debate

Floor debate is almost unlimited in the Floor debate is almost unlimited in the SenateSenate

The Filibuster – the filibuster is a tactic The Filibuster – the filibuster is a tactic used by the minority to “talk a bill to death” used by the minority to “talk a bill to death” on the Senate flooron the Senate floor Huey LongHuey Long Glen TaylorGlen Taylor Strom ThurmondStrom Thurmond

The Senate’s Rules for Debate

The Cloture RuleThe Cloture Rule This is the Senate’s check on the This is the Senate’s check on the

filibuster and limits debate, but requires a filibuster and limits debate, but requires a petition signed by at least 16 senators and petition signed by at least 16 senators and approval by at least three-fifths of the full approval by at least three-fifths of the full SenateSenate

The Senate’s Rules for Debate Many senators hesitate to use the cloture Many senators hesitate to use the cloture

rule for fear that it will limit free debate rule for fear that it will limit free debate and it will undermine the effectiveness of and it will undermine the effectiveness of the filibuster techniquethe filibuster technique

Voting in the Senate

The Senate uses three different methodsThe Senate uses three different methods Voice voteVoice vote Standing vote or division of the houseStanding vote or division of the house Roll call voteRoll call vote

The Conference Committees

If House and Senate versions of a bill differ, If House and Senate versions of a bill differ, a joint conference committee is appointed a joint conference committee is appointed to achieve a compromise bill acceptable to to achieve a compromise bill acceptable to both housesboth houses

Appointees are usually the senior, most Appointees are usually the senior, most powerful members of each committee and powerful members of each committee and the compromises they reach are usually the compromises they reach are usually acceptable to both housesacceptable to both houses

The President Acts

A bill passed by both houses goes to the A bill passed by both houses goes to the President for his actionPresident for his action

The President may sign the bill into lawThe President may sign the bill into law The President may veto the billThe President may veto the bill The President may allow the bill to become The President may allow the bill to become

law without signing itlaw without signing it The President may use the pocket vetoThe President may use the pocket veto

Congress In Action

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