PLS 121: American Politics and Government The Constitution The Lawmaking Process.
The Lawmaking Process
description
Transcript of The Lawmaking Process
The Lawmaking Process
Terms and Sessions 2 year period which follows elections
1/3 of the Senate and all of the House are elected every two years
Senate=6 year term House=2 year term
112th Congress Link
When and Where does Congress Meet?
Floor Action=time when members discuss and vote on bills
Senate Chamber
House Chamber
When and Where does Congress Meet?
Emergencies President may call Congress to a special
session if they are in recess Confirm appointments, ratify treaties
When and Where does Congress Meet?
Joint Session The Senate and House meet together Used for special occasions—not for
lawmaking State of the Union Address
Congressional Rules
1. Loyalty to one’s own chamber2. Respect3. Specialization4. Reciprocity
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Speaker of the House Presides over debates=determines
who can speak, how long to spend on each item, etc.
Influences committee assignments Speaker of House=John Boehner
House Majority Leader Strategist and party
spokesman Moves legislation
through the House Majority Leader=Eric
Cantor
House Minority Leader Organizes opposition to the majority
party Spokesman for minority party House Minority Leader=Nancy Pelosi
Party Whips Assistant floor leaders Find out, sway opinions of party
members Republican= Kevin McCarthey Democrat= Steny Hoyer
Senate Leaders President of the Senate President Pro Tempore Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader Senate Whips
President of the Senate Vice President always holds this
position Has little authority other than casting
the deciding vote in a tie President of the Senate=Joe Biden
President Pro Tempore Takes the place of the President of
the Senate in case of absence Signs legislation passed by Senate
President Pro Tempore=Daniel Inouye
Senate Majority Leader True leader of the Senate Develops a game plan for advancing
his/her party’s legislation Senate Majority Leader=Harry Reid
Senate Minority Leader Leads opposition to Majority Party Senate Minority Leader=Mitch
McConnell
Senate Whips Sways opinions, and also assistant
Senate Majority/Minority Leader Republican=John Kyl Democrat=Dick Durban
Library of Congress Largest library in the world (97
million books)
References Senate Chamber
http://www.politicalinformation.net/encyclopedia/Senate_in_session.jpg
House Chamber http://www.davidpride.com/USA/DC/images/Capitol_house.jpg
Leadership Positions www.house.gov www.senate.gov