2.  New term begins January 3rd of every odd year.  All 435 members are sworn in on the same day.  The Speaker of the House is elected and sworn in and then the Speaker swears in the remaining members.  Rules of operation are passed.  Committee members and leaders are then chosen.  The House of Representatives then goes to work…

3.  New term begins on January 3rd of every odd year.  The Senate is a continuous body. New members and reelected members are sworn in.  Leadership is voted on and committees are adjusted for new members.  The Senate then goes back to work virtually from where it left off…

4.  House of Representatives › Speaker of the House › Majority Floor Leader › Minority Floor Leader › Majority Whip › Minority Whip  Senate › President of the Senate › President Pro Tempore › Majority Floor Leader › Minority Floor Leader › Majority Whip › Minority Whip

5.  All bill proposals go through on the standing committees. › The House has 20 standing committees with 10 to 75 members on each. Every Representative serves on 1 or 2 committees. › The Senate has 16 standing committees with 14 to 28 members on each. Every Senator serves on 3 or 4 committees.

6.  Agriculture  Appropriations  Armed Services  Budget  Education and Workforce  Energy and Commerce  Financial Services  Government Reform  Homeland Security  House Administration  International Relations  Judiciary  Resources  Rules  Science  Small Business  Standards and Official Conduct  Transportation and Infrastructure  Veteran's Affairs  Ways and Means

7.  Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry  Appropriations  Armed Services  Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs  Budget  Commerce, Science and Transportation  Energy and Natural Resources  Environment and Public Work  Finance  Foreign Relations  Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs  Judiciary  Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions  Rules and Administration  Small Business and Entrepreneurship  Veteran's Affairs

8.  Joint Committees are committees composed of members from both houses who come together to avoid duplication of work. › Economic › The Library of Congress › Printing › Taxation