The Legislative Branch: Congress

The Legislative Branch: The Legislative Branch: CongressCongress

Congressional LeadershipCongressional Leadership The Speaker of the HouseThe Speaker of the House Majority and minority leadersMajority and minority leaders President of the Senate President of the Senate President President Pro TemporePro Tempore Majority and Majority and minority whipsminority whips

Party Strategy and Leadership Party Strategy and Leadership SelectionSelection

Democratic CaucusDemocratic Caucus Republican ConferenceRepublican Conference

Committee StructureCommittee Structure Subcommittees (nearly 8,000 bills Subcommittees (nearly 8,000 bills

per year)per year) Rules Committee and structural Rules Committee and structural

assignments (membership and assignments (membership and chairs, debate, funding)chairs, debate, funding)

Seniority and expertiseSeniority and expertise

Full CommitteesFull Committees Referral and bill assignmentReferral and bill assignment Standing CommitteesStanding Committees Select CommitteesSelect Committees Conference CommitteesConference Committees Appropriations Committees (House)Appropriations Committees (House)

Congressional Powers and Congressional Powers and OversightOversight

Passage of lawsPassage of laws Impeachment Impeachment Treaty approval (Senate)Treaty approval (Senate) Confirmations (Senate Confirmations (Senate committees)committees) Budget (CBO)Budget (CBO) Declarations of war Declarations of war (War Powers Resolution)(War Powers Resolution)

Conditions of DebateConditions of Debate Closed rule (up or down votes)Closed rule (up or down votes) Open rule (amendments allowed) Open rule (amendments allowed) The Senate filibuster and the cloture The Senate filibuster and the cloture

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Legislative DynamicsLegislative Dynamics Riders (Pork barrel politics) Riders (Pork barrel politics) Incumbents facing re-electionIncumbents facing re-election Logrolling and compromiseLogrolling and compromise