1. Leadership House Senate Speaker Majority/Minority Leader
Majority/Minority Whip
Senate
Vice President
President Pro-Tempore
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Party Whips

2. How a bill becomes a law

3. Bill introduction Less than 10% actually pass
Ideas for most bills originate in the executive branch
Introduced in either house, except tax bills (House only)
Diffusion of power is evident
Proponents need many victories, opponents need only one
Two-step legislative process: 1) Authorization & 2)Appropriation
Passage requires only a simple majority

4. Committee action Importance of “correct” committee getting a bill
Committee actions
Pass. Bill is “reported out” to full house for consideration
Kill
Amend— “markup session”. Earmarks added by individual members
Pigeonhole—postponed indefinitely. Most frequent fate of bill
Discharge petition
Importance of Rules Committee
“Traffic cop” function: sets legislative calendar
Established rules on amendments
Establishes rules on floor debate

5. Floor action Senate allows filibusters
Even threat of filibuster is effective
3/5 vote for cloture
Senate allows nongermane amendments. “Christmas tree” bills.
Senate allows one member to place a hold on a bill or nomination

6. Conference committee action
Comprised of members from both houses
Temporary committee reconciles different House-Senate versions of bill, then sends it back to each house for a vote

7. Presidential action Sign the bill in full
Veto the bill in full can be overridden by 2/3 vote in both houses
Ignore the bill
After 10 days, the bill automatically becomes a law
If, however, in that 10 day period, Congress adjourns, the bill is pocket-vetoed
Line-item veto given to President in the 90’s
Ruled unconstitutional in Clinton v. NY

10. The committee system

11. Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work”
--Woodrow Wilson

12. introduction
Real work is done in committees and subcommittees, not on the floor
Before a bill reaches the floor it must first pass through committee
Committee functions:
Analyze legislation
Conduct investigations
Conduct oversight

13. Selection of committee members
Get on the right committee!
Assigned by either the Committee on Committees or the Steering and Policy Com.
Majority in the house= majority on the committees
Committee chair is majority party, ranking member is minority party

14. Selection of committee chairs
Power of chairmen: set committee agenda, hire staff, membership on subcommittees
Chairmen are selected by secret ballot in party caucuses or conferences
Seniority system
Advantages
Disadvantages
Decentralization of the 1970’s

15. A look inside a committee hearing
Waxman threatens to kick out Issa
Oversight hearing on EPA

16. Types of committees

17. standing committees Permanent committees of Congress In the House:
In the Senate:
Rules
Finance
Ways and Means
Appropriations
Foreign Relations
Judiciary

18. Conference committees
Temporary committees compromised of members from both houses
Compromise language on a bill

19. Other types
Select committees
Joint committees
Crash Course clip

20. Student cam
On a scale of 1-10 (1 being you have done close to nothing, 10 being you are in the final stages) where would you say your group is on the project?
On a scale of 1-10 what is the likelihood you will be able to turn in a product you are proud of by January 20th?
What has been your biggest obstacle? (Interviews/time/equipment/group/etc)
What would be most helpful at this stage?

21. Influences on members of congress
From what we have studied thus far, list different ways that members of congress are influenced.

22. Influences on members of congress
Constituent convictions—DELEGATE role and representational voting
Campaign contributors
The media
Members’ convictions—TRUSTEE role and attitudinal voting
Iron triangles (subgovernments)
Political party
Their peers—reciprocity (exchange of favors) and logrolling (exchange of votes)
Congressional staff members
Interest groups / lobbies / PACs
Congressional caucuses
The President

23. Case against congress Congress is inefficient
Congress is unrepresentative
Congress is unethical
Congress is irresponsible
Congress delegates excessive power to the
executive branch