Ap GOV

House Rules Committee

• Gatekeeper for all legislation 

• Decides when votes take place, assigns bills to various committees for debate and revision

Speaker of the House (Majority Party)

• Recognizes members to speak on the floor

• Assigns bills to committees

• Appoints members to select and joint committees

• Appoints the majority party members of the House Rules Committee

House Majority Leader

• Schedules legislation 

• Promote Party's legislative priorities

House Majority Whips

• Discipline/Keep Party Members in Check

• Helps count votes on legislation

House Minority Leader

• Represents Minority Party

• Organizes opposition to the majority’s party legislation 

House Minority Whips

• Discipline/Keep Party Members in Check

President Pro Tempore (Majority Party)

• Leads Senate when VP not present

• Mostly Ceremonial role 

Senate Majority Leader

• Most powerful member of the Senate

• Control/Set legislative agenda

• Sets Senate Calendar

• Assigns members to committees

Senate Majority Whip

• Securing votes for party legislation 

• Maintains party discipline

Senate Minority Leader

• Organizes opposition to the majority’s proposals

Senate Minority Whip

• Promotes minority party communication and vote organization

Standing Committee

• Remains Session to Session

• Always Present Issues

• Ex: Appropriations Committee (Senate)

• Ex: Ways and Means Committee (House

Joint Committee

• Members from Both Senate and House

• Ex: Joint Committee on the Library/Printing

Selective Committee

• Temporary Committee formed for a specific purpose

Conference Committee

• Formed if Both Houses can’t agree on bill

House Rules Committee

• Gatekeeper for all legislation 

• Decides when votes take place, assigns bills to various committees for debate and revision