1. Bell ringer
Summarize how the “political machine” and the media were depicted in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
In regards to how the media was portrayed, do you think the media is more, less, or just as involved in politics today?

2. Organization of Congress

3. Today we will …. Examine the organization of congress.
Objectives
Agenda
Examine the organization of congress.
Identify the types of committees and their purposes.
Vocabulary
Guided notes
Committee folders
Ticket out the Door

4. Vocabulary
Standing Committee: permanent committee in the House and Senate
Select Committee: special committee set up for a specific purpose for a limited time (House and Senate)
Joint Committee: composed of members from the House and Senate
Seniority Rule: an unwritten rule in the Congress that allows important positions of leadership to be held by those with the longest records of service in Congress.

5. Two Houses of Congress
House of Representatives
Senate

6. NJ Plan & VA Plan! Bicameralism
Why is Congress divided into two houses?
Because our founding fathers saw bicameralism as a way to diffuse (spread) the power of Congress, which prevented it from overwhelming the other two branches of government.
NJ Plan & VA Plan!

7. Congressional Terms
Each term of Congress lasts 2 years.
The beginning of each 2 year term is “noon of the 3rd day in January” of every odd numbered year.
So the Congressmen we elected in November 2014 didn’t start until January 3rd, 2015.
While each term is 2 years, there are no term limits in Congress.
This means the same Senator or Representative can stay in Congress for life as long as he/she keeps getting reelected.
ture=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode= 1&safe=active

8. Salary and Benefits
Senators and Representatives make $174,000 per year.
Speaker of the House makes $223,500 per year
Minority/Majority floor leaders in both houses make $193,400 per year
They also receive special tax deductions
They receive travel allowances to go back and forth to Washington
Franking Privilege: Allows them to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their signature instead of the postage.

9. The Politics of Pay Two limits on congressional pay
President veto power
Voter backlash

10. Check for understanding
How long is the term for the Senate? the House?
How do you think the lack of term limits and the franking privilege contribute to the incumbency advantage?

12. Speaker of the House Chosen by the majority party
Directs business on the floor during meetings
Calls on and recognizes members wishing to speak
Appoints members to Select and Special committees
Can vote but usually doesn’t, must vote to break a tie
John Boehner (Ohio)
(“bay-ner”)
Uses their position to encourage passage of their party's political programs
May not serve as chair of house Rules Committee

14. The Senate
The Founding Fathers hoped that the smaller Senate would be a more enlightened and responsible body than the House.
They thought the House would be too often swayed by the immediate impact of events and by the passions of the moment.
“The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”

15. The Senate The Senate is a “continuous body”
This means that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.
6 year terms give Senators some job security
Since they represent an entire State, they have a huge constituency, which means the people and interests the Senators represent.

16. President of the Senate
Vice President
Only constitutional duty
Joe Biden
Only assigned job in the constitution

17. President Pro Tempore Selected by members of the Senate
Leading member of the majority party
Serves when the VP is absent
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

18. Check for understanding
What is the leader of the House called?
Who leads the Senate?
Who takes over when he is not present?

19. Party Leadership in Congress

20. Floor Leaders Both houses of Congress are organized along party lines
After the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore, the majority & minority floor leaders in both houses are the most important officers in Congress
Chosen from their members to represent and coordinate the party
Try to steer what happens on the floor to the benefit of their parties
In the House and Senate

21. Party Whips Go-betweens between party leaders and party members
Round up members when important votes are to be taken

22. Major Roles Congressmen Play
Legislators (law makers)
Representatives
Committee members
Politicians

23. Representatives of the People
Senators and representatives are elected to represent the people (that means YOU)
Delegate or Turstee?
Cast hundreds of votes each session. Some big, some small.
When voting on issues they must ask themselves these questions:
How do the people representative represent the people? On what basis do they cast their vote?

24. Check for understanding
Who elects the Floor Leaders?
What does the Whip do?

25. Committees

26. Congress Senate House Senate Committees Joint Committees
House Committees

28. Types of Committees
1.) Standing committees 2.) Select or Special Committees 3.) Joint Committees

29. Standing Committees Permanent
Most are subject-related (Judiciary, Foreign Policy, Armed Services)
Majority party holds majority membership
Review, research and revise bills
May hold a hearing where they are informed by experts, question witnesses, view exhibits or photographs, examine material evidence, or observe demonstrations in order to gather information about a bill
House->
19 committees w/9-75 members,
1-2 committees per member
Senate
17 committees w/12-28 members,
3-4 committees per member
Examples
Armed services
Foreign relations
Judiciary

30. Select/Special Committees
Temporary
Usually set up for a specific purpose & a limited time
Oversight function – to keep things from going wrong in govt.
Investigations
Hearing in front of the House Homeland Security Committee
Remember the Salahi (white house party crasher) for crashing the white house they were trialed before a special committee
Examples
Watergate
9/11
Remember this story?

31. Joint Committees Made up of members from both houses Permanent
Debate & report on matters concerning Congress, as a whole
Example: Joint Economic Committee +
example
Joint economic committees

33. Committee Chairpersons
Chosen by majority party
Chairpersons are selected by seniority rule
Rule states that the majority party member who has the most consecutive years in congress has seniority
Duties
Decides when committee will meet
What bills to consider
Whether there will be a public hearing or witnesses
Manages bill when it is reported to whole body
Some select by secret ballot
Rule states that the majority party member who has the most consecutive years in congress has seniority
Criticism of the rule
Ignores ability
Places higher value on length of services
Discourages younger members
Stagnates committees
Pros
Uses powerful and experienced leaders
Easy rule to follow
Avoids intra party squabbles

34. Check for understanding
President Woodrow Wilson once noted that Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work. Explain the meaning of this statement in your own words.

35. Comparing the Chambers of Congress
House of Representatives
The Senate
Larger body (435 members)
Smaller body (100 members)
Shorter term (2 years)
Longer term (6 years)
Smaller constituencies (elected from districts within States)
Larger constituencies (elected from the entire State)
Younger members
Older members
Less prestige
More prestige
Most work done in committees, not on the floor
Work is split more evenly between committees & the floor
Strict rules, limited debate
Flexible rules, nearly unlimited debate
No power over treaties/presidential appointments
Approves/rejects treaties & presidential appointments

36. Closure
Ticket out the door – Senators & Represenatives #70