How Congress is Organized Every two years, a new Congress is seated. The first order of business is the election of leaders and adoption of new rules. Both houses of Congress are organized on the basis of party for both leadership and committee purposes. (Vote ¾ of the time with their parties)

House of Representatives Speaker Presides over HOR Appoints select and conference committees Appoints Rules committee Recognizes those on floor for debate Assigns bills to committees 2nd in line for Presidency after VP

HOR Majority/Minority Leader Partisan position picked by respective parties Floor leader and legislative strategist Responsible for scheduling bills and rounding up votes for bills that parties favor

HOR Majority Whip/Minority Whip Assistant floor leader Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the house Keep nose count on important votes Pressure members to support leadership

Senate Vice President President of the Senate Presides over the Senate Votes in case of a tie

Senate President Pro Tempore Ceremonial Job Presides when the VP is absent 3rd in line for the Presidency after the speaker Orrin Hatch

Senate Majority Leader/Minority Leader Whips (Same in HOR) Most influential leader in the Senate Recognized first for all debates True leader of majority party Determines the Senate’s agenda Whips (Same in HOR)

Committees Standing Committees Joint Committees Select/Special Committees Conference Committees

Committee Assignments Democrats: Steering and Policy Committee This is the Democratic “caucus” that assigns them Republicans: Committee on Committees This is the Republican “conference” that assigns them

Committee Membership The percentage of a committee reflects overall percentage of political party members in respective chamber Members desire relevant committees related to districts and/or experience Ambitious members strive for membership in major standing committees and/or become chairperson Committee assignments based on party leadership and patronage

Committee Leadership Committees are headed by a CHAIRPERSON All chairpersons are from the majority party in the respective chamber Set committee agendas, assign subcommittee members, decide on hearings and witnesses Used to be based on seniority system Now usually long-standing member of committee

Majority Party Has: More members on each committee and subcommittee All Committee chairmanships Usually the senior member of the majority party (person with longest COMMITTEE service, not necessarily CONGRESSIONAL service) but has largely been replaced by secret ballot voting All subcommittee chairmanships Senior member of the minority party is known as the ranking member