1. Congress: Powers, Leadership, and Structure

2. Organization of Senate
Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
Symbolic “President” of the Senate. Only votes in case of tie.
President Pro Tempore
President Pro Tempore
Called the President Pro Temp. Really only starts and ends meetings. No real power. Most senior member of the majority party
Senate Majority Leader
Elected by their fellow party members. Is the leader of the party and keeps them focused on the agenda set by the party. Takes blame for defeats in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader
Senate Minority Leader
Senate Minority Leader
Elected by their fellow party members. Is the leader of the party and keeps them focused on the agenda set by the party. Takes blame for defeats in the Senate
Senate Majority Whip
Senate Majority Whip
Elected by their fellow party members. Charged with keeping count of votes and influencing members.
Senate Minority Whip
Senate Minority Whip
Elected by their fellow party members. Charged with keeping count of votes and influencing members.

3. Current Senate Leadership

4. Current Senate Leadership

5. Current Senate Leadership

6. Organization of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Speaker of the House
Elected by the majority party. Has much more control over the House than the Senate leadership has.
Decides who gets a chance to speak on the floor
Rules on motions made from the floor
Influences which Committee a bill is referred to
Influences the calendar and which bills are voted upon
Appoints members of special and select committees
House Majority Leader
House Majority Leader
Elected by their fellow party members. Has less power than the same position in the Senate due to Speaker’s role
House Minority Leader
Elected by their fellow party members. Is the leader of the party and keeps them focused on the agenda set by the party. Takes blame for defeats in the House
House Minority Leader
House Majority Whip
House Majority Whip
Elected by their fellow party members. Charged with keeping count of votes and influencing members.
House Minority Whip
Elected by their fellow party members. Charged with keeping count of votes and influencing members.
House Minority Whip
Republican Committee on Committees

7. Current House Leadership

8. The Committee System
Take into account all the areas the Legislative Branch must act on…..
Would it be possible for a person to have the depth of knowledge to make reasonable, intelligent decisions on all of these areas?
Due to this the Legislative Branch has organized itself into Committees that specialize in different areas of policy
Committees are mixed between both parties, with the majority party in the Legislative body having more members per committee

9. Types of Committees
Standing Committees: Committees that are permanent parts of Congress.
Select Committees: Committees assembled for a specific period of time to accomplish a specific task (Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming)
Joint Committees: Committees put together that consist of members of both the House and Senate
* Conference Committee: A special joint committee put together to hammer out differences between bills passed by the House and the Senate

10. HOUSE COMMITTEES
SENATE COMMITTEES
Agriculture
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Appropriations
Armed Services
Banking and Financial Service
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Budget
Commerce
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Education and the Workforce
Energy and Natural Resources
Government Reform
Environment and Public Works
House Administration
Finance
International Relations
Foreign Relations
Judiciary
Governmental Affairs
Resources
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Rules
Indian Affairs
Science
Small Business
Rules and Administration
Standards of Official Conduct
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans Affairs
Ways and Means

11. Roles of Committees Consider Bills/Legislative Proposals
Before bills are debated by the full body, they are studied and “marked up” in committee. The committee “reports” it out to the full House or Senate for a vote.
94% of all bills DIE in committee
Conduct Investigations
They look into areas of “concern” that fall under their area of expertise (MLB Steroid Hearings)
Oversight of Executive Branch
They investigate the operations and actions of Executive Branch Agencies (“Fast and Furious”, “9/11 commission”)

12. Introduction
Ideas for bills come from citizens, President, members of Congress, or special-interest groups
Bills may only be introduced or
sponsored by a member of Congress.
Revenue bills must start in the House.
Bills are drafted and given a number.

13. Committee Action Bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee.
May also be sent to subcommittee
Committees research, revise, and debate bills
Choices:
Reject it immediately
Pigeonhole it
Approve it

14. Floor Debate Bill debated in the house that introduced it.
Very strict rules for debate in the House of Representatives.
Fewer rules for debate
in the Senate.
Filibuster
Cloture
If approved, the bill goes to the other house for approval.

15. Conference Committee
Joint committee made up of members from both houses.
Job: Create a compromised version of revised bills.
Both houses must agree on changes.

16. Presidential Action Approval: Rejection: Sign bill into law
Bill becomes law without signature
Keeps bill for 10 days, Congress IN session
Rejection:
Veto
Pocket veto
Keeps bill for 10 days, Congress NOT in session