1. How Congress Is Organized
CH 8.3

2. The constitution doesn’t tell them how to make laws
They developed their own way of doing it
Bills are prepared in committees
Leaders oversee committee work
Sessions normally last from Jan. 3 till October

3. Leadership in Congress
House leader – Speaker of the House
Senate leader – VP or President pro tem
Majority party chooses

4. Speaker of the House Most powerful member of the House
Decides the order of business & who may speak
Appoints committee members & refers bills to the committees
Influences which bills pass & fail
2nd in line to the President

5. President of the Senate
VP in charge of the session
Can’t debate
Tie breaker
VP normally busy to president pro tem presides

6. Floor Leaders Majority & minority leaders
Next to the Speaker they are most important
Guide bills through congress
Work w/ committee leaders and party members to accept compromises & trade- offs
Whips aid leaders to get party in line & on the floor to vote

7. Working in Committees Were the work gets done Introducing a bill
Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill
Drops bill in the hopper
Senators introduce the by reading it aloud
HR or S and numbered in order introduced

8. Standing Committees 16 in Senate & 20 in the House
Each deals w/ a certain area (education, banking, etc…)
Study a bill, hold public hearings,
May propose changes
Finally decide if they recommend it vote a floor vote

9. Every committee has D & R members Chairperson from majority party
Decide which bills to study
Decide when & if committees will meet
Decide if hearings will be held

10. Select & Joint Committees
Select – committee formed to deal w/ problem not covered by a standing committee.
Joint – House & Senate work together
Usually a select committee
Conduct investigations

11. Conference Committees
A temporary joint committee that tries to settle differences in a bill for a final vote in both houses.

12. The President’s Role Sign a bill into law
Ignores it for 10 day while congress in session it becomes law
Veto it
Send it back unsigned
2/3 vote in both houses can override it
Pocket veto
Hold it for 10 days until session ends so bill dies