1. Chapter 12
Congress in Action

2. Chapter 12 Section 1
Congress Organizes

3. I. Describe how and when Congress convenes
New Congressional terms begin on January 3rd of every odd-numbered years
House of Representative
All 435 seats are up for election every two years
Senate
1/3 of 100 seats are up for election every two years
Continuous body

4. II. Compare roles of the presiding officers in the House and Senate
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore

5. III. Identify the duties of the party officers in Congress
Party caucus
Closed meeting among parties
Floor leaders
Controls the order of business
Whips
Floor leaders assistant

6. IV. Describe how committee chairmen are chosen
Seniority Rule
Does it????
Ignore ability
Discourage younger members

7. END OF SECTION 1

8. Chapter 12 Section 2
Committees in Congress

9. I. Explain how standing committees function
Permanent committees
There are House, Senate, and Joint
Include:
Education
Budget
Rules

10. II. Describe the duties of the House Rules Committee
Traffic Cop
Most bills die in committee
Schedules what bills will be taken to the full House

11. III. Compare Joint and Conference Committees
Joint Committee
Composed of member of both the House and the Senate.
Permanent
Conference Committee
Iron out differences in bills
Temporary

12. END OF SECTION 2

13. How a Bill becomes a Law:
Chapter 12 Section 3
How a Bill becomes a Law:
The House

14. I. Types of Bills and Resolutions
Bill - proposed law
Joint Resolution – has force of law
Concurrent Resolution – no force of law
Resolution – no force of law

15. II. The Bill in Committee
First reading
Given number and title
Appropriate standing committee
Subcommittees

16. Report the bill favorably Refuse to report the bill –
III. Committee Actions
Report the bill favorably
Refuse to report the bill –
Pigeonhole
Report the bill in amended form
Report the bill unfavorable
Report a committee bill

17. Voice votes – most common Standing vote Teller vote Roll-call vote
IV. Voting Methods
Voice votes – most common
Standing vote
Teller vote
Roll-call vote
Computerized – Yea, Nay, Present

18. END OF SECTION 3

19. How a Bill becomes a Law:
Chapter 12 Section 4
How a Bill becomes a Law:
The Senate

20. I. Major difference between bill in the House and the Senate
The major difference between House and Senate procedures involve debate.
Floor debate is limited in the House
Floor debate is almost unrestricted in the Senate

21. II. Rules for Debate The Filibuster The Cloture Rule
“Talk a bill to death”
Sen. Huey Long
Sen. Strom Thurmond
The Cloture Rule
Limits debate

22. III. The President Acts
The Constitution requires all bills passed by both the House and the Senate be sent to the President to either:
Sign into law
Veto
Become law after 10 days
Pocket veto

23. END OF DEMOCRACY