Chapter 8 Section 3

When does Congress meet? CongressSession Begin date Adjourn date 112 th Congress 1January 5, 2011TBD 2TBDJanuary 3, 2013 Sessions – two regular meetings Each Congressional session may last as long as Congress wishes, but roughly less than one year.

Why is this the 112th Congress? Beginning with the first Congress in 1789, each Congress has been identified by number.

Special Sessions The president can recall Congress into a special session when a serious problem arises. These joint sessions are often televised.

5 How Congress Works Who are the leaders in congress? Who are the leaders in congress? What are the roles of committees in congress? What are the roles of committees in congress? How does one become a committee? How does one become a committee?

6 Congressional Leaders Majority party – party with more than ½ of congress Majority party – party with more than ½ of congress Minority party – party with less than half of congress Minority party – party with less than half of congress

7 Floor Leaders Majority leader – majority party’s floor leader Majority leader – majority party’s floor leader Majority Whip – assist majority leader Majority Whip – assist majority leader Minority Leader– minority party’s floor leader Minority Leader– minority party’s floor leader Minority Whip – assists minority leader Minority Whip – assists minority leader

8 Speaker of The House Overall leader Overall leader Member majority Party Member majority Party In charge of nearly everything that occurs in House In charge of nearly everything that occurs in House John Boehner (OH) Speaker of the House

9 House Majority Floor Leaders Kevin McCarthy (CA) Majority Whip Eric Cantor (VA) Majority Leader

10 House Minority Floor Leaders Nancy Pelosi (CA) Minority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) Minority Whip

11 President of the Senate Leader of Senate Leader of Senate Vice President is President of the Senate Vice President is President of the Senate Often away on official business Often away on official business Joe Biden

12 President Pro Tempore Leader of Senate when Vice President not there Leader of Senate when Vice President not there Honorary position usually senior member of majority party Honorary position usually senior member of majority party Daniel Inouye (HI)

13 Senate Majority Floor Leader Harry Reid (NV) Majority Leader Richard Durbin (IL) Majority Whip

14 Senate Minority Floor Leaders Jon Kyl (AZ) Minority Whip Minority Whip Mitch McConnell (KY) Minority Leader

Committees When a bill is introduced in the House or Senate, it is usually referred to the committee with jurisdiction over its particular policy area Committees allow for a division of legislative labor, enabling the 100 Senators and 435 House members to consider approximately 5,000 bills and 50,000 nominations a year

16 5 Congressional Committees Standing Standing Subcommittee Subcommittee Select Select Joint Joint Conference Conference

17 Congressional Committees Standing committees are permanent committees. Standing committees are permanent committees. – House of Reps. = 19 standing committees – Senate = 17 standing committees Subcommittees are a small group of committee members used to handle special problems. Subcommittees are a small group of committee members used to handle special problems.

18 Congressional Committees Select committees are temporary committees Select committees are temporary committees Joint committees include members of both houses usually for a limited time Joint committees include members of both houses usually for a limited time Conference committee - special type to help both houses agree on details of a proposed law Conference committee - special type to help both houses agree on details of a proposed law

19 Seniority System System where committee assignments are given to congressman with the longest time in congress System where committee assignments are given to congressman with the longest time in congress Committee chairperson is usually the committee member with the most time in congress Committee chairperson is usually the committee member with the most time in congress

20 Review Question 1 ___________ party has more than ½ the members of congress ____________ party has less than ½ the members of congress Majority Minority

21 Review Question 2 What do we call the overall leader of the House of Representatives? Who holds that position today?

22 Review Question 3 Who is the official leader of the Senate? What is the title of the leader of the Senate?

23 Review Question 4 ______________ is the floor leader for the party with less than ½ the members of a house of congress ______________ is the floor leader for the party with more than ½ the members of a house of congress Minority leader Majority leader

24 Review Question 5 When the President of the Senate is unable to lead the Senate, who leads the Senate?

Types of Committees (Standing, select, joint, conference) Standing: Permanent committees (last from year to year); agriculture, appropriations, armed services, budget –Process bulk of legislation Select (or Special): –Temporary, usually lasting only 2 years –Usually don’t have legislative authority, but study bills and make recommendations –Coordinate legislation that overlaps jurisdiction of several standing committees (Select committee on homeland security)

Joint: Include members of both chambers (House and Senate) –Economic, Library, Printing, Taxation Conference: Reconcile differences between similar measures passed by both chambers (legislation must be identical before signed by president) –Composed of members of both houses 4 types of conference bargaining: Traditional: participants meet, haggle Offer-counteroffer: sides suggest compromises, recess to discuss Subconference: groups address special topics Pro forma: informal preconference negotiations