1. Chapter 12 Congress in Action

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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