Members of Congress

Breaking it down!

Members of the House of

Representatives Unit 6 Part 3

Members of the House of Representatives

1. Speaker of the House

Speaker of the House

• The presiding officer of the House and most powerful leader

• Chosen from the Majority party• Jobs:– Presides over the sessions of the House– Choose order in which Representatives speak– Appoints members of some committees– Schedules bills for action and proper House

Committee

Members of the House of Representatives

1. Speaker of the House

2. Majority Leader

Majority Leader

• Chosen from majority party (leader of majority party) this is the 2nd most powerful person in the house.

• Jobs:– House floor leader for majority party– Help plan the party’s legislative program – Steer important bills through the house– Makes sure the chairpersons of many of the

committees work on bills for their political party

Members of the House of Representatives

1. Speaker of the House

2. Majority Leader

3. Minority Leader

Minority leader

• The responsibilities of these leaders are much the same as those of the majority party except they have no power over scheduling work in the house.

Members of the House of Representatives

1. Speaker of the House

2. Majority Leader

4. Whip Whip Whip

3. Minority Leader

5. Whip Whip Whip

Majority and Minority Whips

• Serve as assistants to the floor leaders.• Jobs:– Persuade them to vote as the party wishes– See that the party members are present to vote.

Members of the House of Representatives

1. Speaker of the House

2. Majority Leader

4. Whip 4. Whip

6. deputy whip

6. deputy whip

6. deputy whip

4. Whip

3. Minority Leader

5. Whip 5. Whip

7. deputy whip

7. deputy whip

7. deputy whip

Representatives

5. Whip

Deputy Whips

• Help Majority or Minority whips with party voting and attendance.

Representative• Regular members of the House - read and

pass legislation. • Serve on House committees.

Now…

• Get out your handout for “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”

Senate

Breaking it down!

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President of USA

Vice President

• President of the Senate• Jobs:– Recognize members to speak on legislation and

put questions to a vote– He / She is not an elected member of the senate

and may not take part in senate debates– Cast votes in the event of a tie

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President

2. President Pro Tempore

President Pro Tempore

• Latin meaning “for the time being”• The vice president is often called away to carry

out his/ her other duties• In absence of the VP the Pro Tempore presides

over the senate.• The senate elects the Pro Tempore from the

Majority party

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President

3. Majority Leader

2. President Pro Tempore

Majority Leader

• Leader of majority party; this is the 3rd most powerful person in the Senate.

• Jobs:– Senate floor leader– Help plan party’s legislative program – Steer important bills– Makes sure the chairpersons work on bills for

their political party

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President

3. Majority Leader 4. Minority

Leader

2. President Pro Tempore

Minority leader

• Much the same as majority party leader except they have no power over scheduling work in the Senate.

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President

3. Majority Leader

5. Whip 5. Whip 5. Whip

4. Minority Leader

6. Whip

6. Whip

6. Whip

2. President Pro Tempore

Majority and Minority Whips

• Serve as assistants to the floor leaders.• Jobs:– Persuade them to vote as the party wishes– See that the party members are present to vote.

Members of the Senate

1. Vice President

3. Majority Leader

5. Whip 5. Whip

7. deputy whip

7. deputy whip

7. deputy whip

5. Whip

4. Minority Leader

6. Whip

6. Whip

8. deputy whip

8. deputy whip

8. deputy whip

9. Senators

6. Whip

2. President Pro Tempore

Deputy Whips

• Help Majority or Minority whips with party voting and attendance.

Senators• Regular elected members of the Senate - read

and pass legislation. • Serve on Senate committees.