1. Congress in Action Chap. 11

2. Who are the members of congress!
Near 50% are lawyers They mostly deal with laws and making of laws White, Middle-class, older, Christians, males averaging about 50 years old Male (85%), Women (15%), White (86%), AA (8%), HA (5%), APA (1%)

3. Who keeps coming back to congress?
“All members of congress have one primary interest, to be reelected” Incumbents (those already elected) win 90 % of their reelections! Why? 1. Easier to raise funds 2. Gerrymandering 3. Better known to voters 4. Have helped voters 5. Most believe Incumbents best represent their view

5. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Presiding Officer of the House
Leader of the Majority Party in the House

6. Aid the fortunes of the party and its legislative goals
Functions of Speaker
Preside in fair manner
Keep order
Call for votes
Aid the fortunes of the party and its legislative goals
Names members to conference committees
Votes to force a tie or break a tie

7. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
Deputy to Speaker
Sets agenda
Schedules bills
Chief spokesperson during debate

8. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Sets party’s agenda in House
Recommends members for conf. committee
Chief spokesperson for party

9. Party Whips for House/Senate
R = Steve Scalise D= Steny Hoyer
Chief assistant to floor leaders
Make sure members of their party are present to vote
Keep track of how members intend to vote on important bills

10. President of Senate V.P. Joe Biden (D)
Presides over Senate (like Speaker)
Votes only to break a tie
Does not take part in debates

11. President Pro Tempore Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Presides in VP’s absence
Longest serving member of majority party

12. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Leader of Senate:
Appoints members for conf. committee
Same duties as in House
Set agenda
Chief spokesperson
Schedule bills

13. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sets party agenda in the Senate
Recommends members for conf. Committee
Chief spokesperson for party

14. Senate Majority/Minority Whips Same duties as House Whips
Majority Whip = John Cornyn (R- TX)
Minority Whip = Dick Durbin (D- IL)

15. Rep. (R) Tom Price Sen. David Perdue (R) Sen. Johnny Isakson
Who represents you?
Rep. (R) Tom Price
Sen. David Perdue
(R)
Sen. Johnny Isakson

16. Rep. Tom Price (R-6th District)
6th district = Cherokee Co., parts of Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton county Bio: Michigan & Emory graduate (Orthopedic surgery), married with 1 son, residing in Roswell, served in state legislature Committees: education & labor, financial services He is concerned: w/patient centered health reform, reforming the tax system, repairing the litigation system, transportation solutions for Atlanta

17. Sen. David perdue (R-GA)
Bio: Born in Macon, GA., GT grad (1972 IE, 1975), in consulting business, married with 2 children and reside in Sea Island, GA, elected to Senate in 2014 Committees: Agriculture Committee; Budget Committee; Foreign Relations Committee; Judiciary Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging; also on subcommittees for forestry & state department Issues: fight for term limits, lower spending, growing the economy, create jobs and tackle the debt crisis

18. Sen. Johnny Isaakson (R-GA)
Bio: born in Atlanta (resides in Marietta), UGA grad., own a real estate firm, married with 3 kids Committees: Environment & public works, foreign relations, veterans affair, small business and entrepreneurship, health-education-labor- pension, select comm. on ethics Issues: gun rights, homeland security, immigration reform