How Congress Works Chapter 13

How Congress WorksHow Congress WorksChapter 13Chapter 13

Who’s in Congress?Who’s in Congress?

Demographic Profile of the 111th Congress

Age GroupsAge Groups PartyParty

GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity

House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences HouseHouse

435 members435 members 2 yr terms2 yr terms 25 years old25 years old Speaker presented Speaker presented

bills r hard to challengebills r hard to challenge Scheduling/rules Scheduling/rules

controlled by majority controlled by majority party with powerful party with powerful Rules Committee Rules Committee

SenateSenate 100 members100 members 6 yr terms6 yr terms 30 years old30 years old Bills more easily Bills more easily

challengedchallenged Scheduling/rules agreed Scheduling/rules agreed

to by majority & minority to by majority & minority leadersleaders

House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences

HouseHouse Debate limited to 1 Debate limited to 1

hourhour Members policy Members policy

specialistsspecialists Emphasizes tax & Emphasizes tax &

revenue policyrevenue policy More formal & More formal &

impersonalimpersonal

SenateSenate Unlimited debate Unlimited debate

unless cloture unless cloture invokedinvoked

Members policy Members policy generalistsgeneralists

Emphasizes foreign Emphasizes foreign policypolicy

More informal & More informal & personalpersonal

Party LeadershipParty LeadershipParty LeadershipParty Leadership

HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP

Speaker (majority party)

Democrats:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Steering & Policy

Committee• Democratic

Congressional Campaign Committee

Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelossi (D-CA)

Majority LeaderSteny Hoyer (D-MD)

Majority WhipJames Clyburn (D-SC)

HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP

Republicans:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of

Conference• Policy Committee• National Republican

Congressional Committee

• Research Committee

Minority LeaderJohn Boehner (R-OH)

Minority WhipEric Cantor (R-VA)

SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIP

President of the Senate (Vice President)

President Pro Tempore (majority party)

Democrats:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Chairman of Conference• Policy Committee• Steering Committee• Democratic Senatorial

Campaign CommitteeMajority Leader

Harry Reid (D-NV)

President Pro TemRobert Byrd (D-WV)

Majority WhipRichard Durbin (D-IL)

President of the SenateJoe Biden (D-DE)

SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIP

Republicans:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of

Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on

Committees• Republican Senatorial

Committee

Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R-KY)

Minority WhipJon Kyl (R-AZ)

Strength of Party Structure?Strength of Party Structure?

• Measure of party strength:

1. Ability of leaders to control party rules and organization

2. Extent to which party members vote together in the House and Senate

• Senate: less party-centered and leader oriented

Party UnityParty UnityParty UnityParty Unity

• Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..

• Ideology important variable explaining party Ideology important variable explaining party voting (members vote with their party 80% of voting (members vote with their party 80% of the time)the time)

• Party polarizationParty polarization - vote in which majority of - vote in which majority of democrats oppose majority of republicansdemocrats oppose majority of republicans

• Polarization trends:Polarization trends:o 1976 HR = 36%; S = 37%1976 HR = 36%; S = 37%o 1995 HR = 73%; S = 69%1995 HR = 73%; S = 69%o 2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%

CAUCUSESCAUCUSES

• Caucus: an association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional or economic interest

• Intra-party caucuses: members share a similar ideology • Personal interest caucuses: members share an interest in

an issue • Constituency caucuses: established to represent groups,

regions or both

• Examples: Congressional Black Caucus, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus

"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”

- Woodrow Wilson

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:

Function and PurposeFunction and Purpose

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose


1. Consider bills (a.k.a. “mark-up” bills)

A bill with a member’s mark-up notes



2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing re: the Department of Defense Budget (May, 2006)



3. Conduct investigations

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hurricane Katrina (Feb.2 006)

Types of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of Committees

Standing Committees - permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities~Subcommittees – formed to tackle very specific

tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees

Select or Special Committees - groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration

Joint Committees - includes members of both chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks

Conference Committee - includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills

Standing CommitteesStanding CommitteesStanding CommitteesStanding Committees

House Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing Committees

Agriculture

Appropriations

Armed Services

Budget

Education & Workforce

Energy & Commerce

Financial Services

Government Reform

House Admin.

International Relations

JudiciaryResourcesRulesScienceSmall BusinessStandards of Official

ConductTransportation &

InfrastructureVeterans AffairsWays & Means

Senate Standing CommitteesSenate Standing Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry

Appropriations

Armed Services

Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs

Budget

Commerce, Science, Transportation

Energy & Natural Resources

Environment and Public Works

Finance

Foreign Relations

Governmental Affairs

Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Judiciary

Rules and Administration

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Veterans Affairs

Special, Select CommitteesSpecial, Select Committees

• House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming

• Senate Select Committee on Ethics

• House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence

Gen. Michael Hayden is sworn in during a full committee hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Joint CommitteesJoint Committees

• Joint Economic Committee

• Joint Committee on Printing

• Joint Committee on Taxation

Joint Committee on Joint Committee on Taxation hearingTaxation hearing

Title: Resolution Artist: Bob GorrellDate: 12/28/06 Source: http://www.gorrellart.com/

http://www.gorrellart.com/



How Congress WorksHow Congress Works

A Bill v. A Law

Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted

A Bill v. A Law

Law - a bill or act passed by a legislative body

Step 1: An Idea for a BillStep 1: An Idea for a Bill

Members of CongressMembers of CongressCitizensCitizens

Interest GroupsInterest GroupsFederal AgencyFederal Agency

GovernorsGovernorsMayorsMayors

White HouseWhite House

Step 2: Writing & Introduction of BillStep 2: Writing & Introduction of Bill

Senate:• Bill formerly

read aloud on floor

• Bill then given to clerk

• Referred to committee by Steering Committee

House:• Bill dropped in hopper• Referred to committee

by the Speaker

Step 3: Committee ActionStep 3: Committee Action

• House & Senate committees conduct public hearings

• Experts testify

• Markup of bills

• Committee vote: report favorably, unfavorably, or table bill

House Armed Services CommitteeHouse Armed Services Committee

Step 4: Floor Action - SenateStep 4: Floor Action - Senate• Party leaders schedule

bills for floor debate on the calendar

• Unlimited debate• Filibuster - member(s)

keep talking to block debate on a bill

• Cloture vote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster

• Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest

filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Actfilibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act

Step 4: Floor Action - HouseStep 4: Floor Action - House

• Rules Committee schedules bills on calendar & decides whether amendments may be added

• Limited debate• Floor vote:

Recorded, Standing, Voice

Step 5: Approved Bill Step 5: Approved Bill Crosses Over to Other HouseCrosses Over to Other House

• Approved bill must pass each chamber by a simple majority

Step 6: Conference CommitteeStep 6: Conference Committee

• Members from each chamber meet to reconcile differences in the two bills

Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act

Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Final Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Final Version of the BillVersion of the Bill

Step 8: President Considers BillStep 8: President Considers Bill

President can:

1. Sign the bill into law

2. “Do nothing” law

3. Veto bill

4. Pocket vetoNote: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote in each house; only 4% of vetoes have been overridden

City of New York v. William J. Clinton

How Congress Works Chapter 13

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