Chapter 12 Congress in Action

Section 1: Congress Organizes Convenes on January 3rd every odd-numbered year Opening Day in the House: Clerk of House from previous term presides Calls chamber to order and takes roll-call Speaker of House is chosen: long-standing member of majority party

Organization of House: Democrats on right of center isle, Republicans to left Majority party officially elects clerk, sergeant at arms, chief administrative officer and chaplain (not House members) Members of 19 permanent committees of House are appointed

Opening Day in the Senate: Continuous body – makes first day short and routine Newly elected and reelected members are sworn in Vacancies in Senate organization and committees are filled

State of the Union Message In late January or early February, the President addresses a joint session of Congress Also included are: cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, foreign diplomatic corps and other dignitaries With the advent of television – speech is televised to whole nation Report on the state of the nation – both domestic and foreign affairs and outlines President’s plan for the next year

Speaker of the House Presides over House Elected from majority party Current Speaker? Significance? Duties: to preside and keep order No member may speak until recognized by Speaker, refers bills to committee, puts motions to vote, names members of select and conference committees, may vote, must break tie Second in line for Presidency behind VP

President of the Senate Vice President Major differences from S of H: not chosen by Senate, not necessarily a member of the majority party, can only vote in case of a tie, cannot speak or debate Does have power of presiding officer President Pro Tempore Presides over the Senate in VP’s absence Elected by Senate and is member of majority party

Party Caucus closed meeting of members of each party in each house Both houses are organized along party lines, making it a political body Party Caucus closed meeting of members of each party in each house Deals with party organization Floor Leaders not official positions, rather party officers Legislative strategists Chief spokesperson for the party Assisted by whips

Committee Chairmen Seniority Rule Members who head standing committees in each chamber Seniority Rule Unwritten custom that provides the most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest record of service Criticism- ignores ability, discourages younger members, committee head has been reelected numerous times and is, therefore, out of touch with his constituency

Support- ensures a powerful and experienced member will head each committee ASSIGNMENT: Create a chart similar to the one page 324 with up-to-date information.

Section 2: Committees Standing committees Permanent committees in both houses 20 in the House, 17 in the Senate, 4 Joint A bill’s fate is often decided in committee Each committee handles bills dealing with particular policy matters Example- Bill on taxes goes to House Ways and Means Committee and to Senate Finance Committee

Selects Committees Joint Committees Conference Committee Special committees – set up for specific purpose and for limited time Formed to investigate current matter Joint Committees Composed of members from both houses Conference Committee When different versions of the same bill are passed in both houses – created to iron out the differences

Section 3: How a Bill Becomes a Law - House Bill is a proposed law presented to House or Senate for consideration Public bills- measures applying to the nation as a whole Private bills- measures that apply to certain persons or places

Concurrent Resolutions Joint Resolutions Similar to bills – when passed they have the force of law Most often deal with unusual or temporary matters Concurrent Resolutions Matters in which the House and Senate must act on jointly Do not have force of law and do not require President’s signature

Resolutions - deal with matters concerning either house alone Rider – a provision not likely to pass on its own merit and is attached to an important measure certain to pass Each bill that is passed goes through three readings Bills are referred to committee where members sift through bills and determine fate

Committees can pigeonhole a bill causing the bill to die in committee Discharge petition enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration Junket – a trip that committee members take to conduct on the scene investigation of a bill at public expense

Committee Actions Report favorably on bill with a “do pass” recommendation Refuse to report bill Report bill in amended form Report on bill with an unfavorable recommendation Report a committee bill

Schedule for floor debate Placed on a calendar – one of five House Calendars that schedules the order in which a bill will be taken up on the floor Union Calendar- all bills dealing with revenue, appropriations or government property House Calendar- all other public bills Private Calendar- all private bills Corrections Calendar- all bills from Union and House Calendars taken out of order by unanimous consent of House Discharge Calendar- petitions to discharge bills from committee

Second reading and engrossed Bill on Floor of House Second Reading, Debate, Voting Voting Methods Voice votes Standing vote Teller vote Roll-call vote Electronic vote Second reading and engrossed Bill is printed in final form, 3rd reading, vote and sent to Senate

Section 4: Bill in the Senate Most steps are the same as House Differences: Less formal and rules are less strict than House One calendar Rules for debate

Senate Debate While debate is strictly limited in House, it is almost unrestrained in Senate Filibuster an attempt to ‘talk to a bill to death’ Senator can talk for an unlimited time about anything. Used to kill a bill or motion Cloture rule- limiting debate. Difficult process and seldom used

To become law, all bills must pass both houses in identical form President has 4 choices Sign bill and it becomes law Veto (refuse to sign bill) Do nothing with it – becomes law after 10 days Pocket veto – President does nothing with bill and Congress adjourns in less than 10 days – bill dies Congress may override a Presidential veto by a 2/3 vote in both houses