Committees and Leadership in Congress

Chapter 12

Starting a New Term

The House must reorganize b/c new members are taking seats

The members then elect their leader (Speaker), who then swears in all members

Then they adopt work rules and appoint members to permanent committees

The Senate has no need to reorganize b/c two-thirds of its members stay the same

At the beginning of each new CongressAt the beginning of each new Congress(every two years), a party caucus is held(every two years), a party caucus is held

to elect officers, review committeeto elect officers, review committeeassignments, discuss party policy,assignments, discuss party policy,

impose party discipline, set party themes,impose party discipline, set party themes,and coordinate media.and coordinate media.

Committees are controlled by the Committees are controlled by the majority party.majority party.

The majority party sets the agenda.The majority party sets the agenda.

Speaker of the House The majority party’s leader Most powerful person in

Congress Follows the VP in Line of

Succession Presides and keeps order Has regular member

duties as well (debate, vote)

Major role in committee assignments

John Boehner (R-OH)

The President of the Senate

Vice President – role is more formal than active

Can oversees sessions, but cannot debate

Votes only in a tie Not chosen by the Senate Does not have regular

member duties Could be from the party out

of power Most authority rests with

party leaders

Joe Biden (D-DE)

President Pro Tempore

Presides in the absence of the VP Elected by the Senate itself Leading member of the majority party –

usually its longest serving member Not as powerful as the Speaker

Daniel Inuoye (D-HI)

Floor Leaders

Most powerful members after Speaker Parties’ chief spokespeople Selected during party caucuses Help pass laws their party wants

Harry Reid (D-NV)Senate Majority Leader

Mitch McConnell (R-KY)Senate Minority Leader

Eric Cantor (R-VA)House Majority Leader

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)House Minority Leader

Whips

Assistant floor leaders Serve as a liaison

Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)House Majority Whip

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)Senate Majority Whip

Committees in Congress

The bulk of the work of Congress (especially the House) is done in committee (small groups).

This helps to handle the extremely heavy workload.

Very important in shaping public policy

Importance of Committees

Most bills receive their most thorough consideration in these bodies

Decide the fate of most bills

Members of both houses regularly respect the decisions and follow the recommendations of committees

Committee Chairmen

A majority of each committee’s members come from the majority party, including the chairperson

Head the standing committees that do most of Congress’ work

Usually committee’s longest standing member from the majority party

Decide when to meet, which bills to consider, and more, but not as powerful as they once were

Seniority Rule

Unwritten custom (the general rule, but there are exceptions)

Provides that the most important posts will be held by those members with the longest records of service

Strom Thurmond (R-SC)

Congressional Caucuses (Informal Organization)

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic.

Most are composed of members from both parties and both houses.

Goal is to promote the interests around which they are formed.

Standing Committee

Permanent Formed to handle bills in different policy

areas Specialize in one subject Handle all bills that relate to that subject Majority party holds a majority of seats on

each committee

House Rules Committee

One of the most powerful Determines when and under what conditions

the whole House will debate and vote on bills Can speed up, delay, or even prevent action

on a bill

Other Important Committees

House Ways and Means Committee & Senate Finance Committee – write tax codes which are subject to the approval of both houses

Appropriations Committees – decides how government money will be apportioned to federal agencies

Select Committee

Usually temporary Set up for a specific purpose, such as an

investigation Example: The committee that investigated

Watergate

Joint Committee

Can be temporary or permanent Includes members of both houses (so that the

houses do not duplicate work)

Conference Committee

Temporary Works out a compromise bill when the House

and Senate have passed different versions of the same bill