CONGRESS PART 2

PRIVILEGES OF CONGRESS 1-free from arrest except felony & treason 2-can’t be sued for libel on anything said in Congress  Can be sued for items in press releases & news letters 3-can decide whether to allow an elected office a seat  “power of exclusion” 4-can punish, expel or censure a member  Censure-disapproval  Expel—most serious crimes committed

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE 435 MEMBERS---MANY FORMAL RULES  5 minutes or less to speak  1 day for debate COMMITTEES DO MOST OF THE WORK  Organize into smaller groups to get the job done  Specialize on a few important issues that are important to constituents PARTY AFFILIATION IMPORTANT  Republicans sit on right side  Democrats on the Left side  Whomever has the majority—picks the leadership

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Picked by majority party caucus JOBS  Decides who gets to speak first  Appointments to committees  Schedules bills for action  Refers bill to committee  Persuasion on bills  Follows VP in succession to Presidency

OTHER HOUSE LEADERSHIP MAJORITY LEADER  ASSISTS SPEAKER  PLANS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR PARTY  FLOOR LEADER  ELECTED BY MAJORITY PARTY MAJORITY WHIP  ASSIST FLOOR LEADERSHIP  SEE HOW REPR. ARE GOING TO VOTE  MAKE SURE ALL ARE IN CHAMBERS TO VOTE  MINORITY WHIP Leadership of party NOT in power Voting & persuasion

PROPOSING A LAW 1-INTRODUCE A BILL  “PUT IN THE “HOPPER” 2-SPEAKER SENDS IT TO COMMITTEE  10,000 BILLS INTRODUCED EACH TERM  10% GO TO FULL HOUSE FOR A VOTE 3-BILLS THAT SURVIVE COMMITTEE GET PUT ON 1 OF 5 CALENDARS FOR CONSIDERATION

5 Types of House Calendars 1-Union  $ issues 2-Private  Individual people & places honored 3-Consent  Special cases  Unanimous consent to debate out of regular order of calendar 4-discharge  Discharge a petition out of committee to go to a vote 5-House  Public bills  Most bill go on this calendar

LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE VP-presides over the Senate  but only votes if there is a tie  No debate allowed by VP  Recognize members to speak Can use political influence President Pro Tempore (temporary)  Elected by Senate; Senior member  Helps if VP is absent Floor Leaders=party leaders Majority-plans work schedule, steers bills thru Minority-develops criticism of other party & their bills

Proposing a Law in the Senate 1-any member can introduce a bill  No rules committee to decide what bills to put up 2-Senate leaders control bills to committee & then to the floor for debate 3-only 2 calendars  General orders-all bills  Executive-treaties & appointments Usually it is unanimous to bring bills to floor to discuss 4-filibuster-keep talking until the majority in the Senate either gets rid of the bill or agrees to modify it  After 3 hours—can talk about anything  Stopped by 3/5 vote  Cloture-limit of 1 hour to speak

TYPES OF COMMITTEES 1-STANDING  Permanent groups about certain topics  Majority party picks leaders  Ex: Foreign relations; Judiciary 2-SELECT  Temporary committee-1 term  Ex: 9/11 Investigation 3-JOINT  From Senate & House; report findings  Can’t propose bills 4-CONFERENCE  Temporary committee when House & Senate have passed  different versions of the same bill

Special Committee-House Rules Directs flow of legislation Most powerful committee in House Decides On:  1-time limit for debate  2-whether a bill can be moved up on a calendar  3-How much the bill can be amended  4-can block or delay voting on a bill they don’t want Use quorum=218 members Or Committee of the Whole—only need 100 members COW can’t pass a bill—just reports the amendments/changes

HOW TO CHOOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS? 1-STRENGTHEN CAREER 2-EXPERIENCE 3-EXERT INFLUENCE ON OTHERS— RULES & APPROPRIATIONS 4-CAN INFLUENCE NATIONAL POLICY MAKING WHO DECIDES?  PARTY LEADERS, COMMITTEE CHAIR  USE SENIORITY

How a Bill Becomes a Law... 2 types of Bills  Private Individuals—honoring achievements/bravery  Public Usually controversial—30% of all bills Resolutions  Simple—internal house matter only  Joint-correct an error; have the force of law Needs both houses & Pres. sign  Concurrent- Don’t need a law passed—no Pres. sign Action of Congress—ex. adjournment  Riders- Attached to another bill that is likely to pass Ex-$ for a bridge; water cleanup etc

Only 5% of All Bills Become Laws 1-long & complicated process 2-need to be willing to compromise & bargain 3-introduce bills that the Representatives know won’t get passed

SPECIAL TYPES OF BILLS TAX & SPENDING BILLS  HOUSE—Ways & Means Committee  SENATE-Finance Committee No proposal for taxes Special interest tax breaks only APPROPRIATIONS-approval of Gov’t spending  1-authorization  2-appropriation Every department needs to testify before this committee to get funding Entitlements*

WHAT INFLUENCES WHETHER A BILL GETS PASSED? 1-VOTERS 2-PARTIES 3-PRESIDENT 4-INTEREST GROUPS 4-POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES