4.3 - The Organization of Congress

Majority Party

the party with the most members in each chamber (control leadership/ organize congressional behavior)

Party Discipline

U.S. has little because party leaders often struggle to make sure their own members vote in accordance with platform

Speaker of the House

elected every 2 YEARS and the only house position in the constitution; leader of the house chosen by its members (has the power in the agenda and committee assignments) - also 2nd in succession to prez

PACs

organization that raises money for candidate/ campaigns

House Majority Leader

of majority party who assists the speaker (2nd in command)

House Minority Leader

coordinates minority party activity in house

Whips

members of congress who ensures their party unity/ discipline (collects info about how members plan to vote)

Vice prez

technical leader of the senate who can only cast a vote in the event of a tie

Prez Pro Tempore

presidents over processing when VP not present in senate (whileds no real power)

Senate Majority Leader

Most power in senate; head of party majority and shape legislative agenda

Senate Minority Leader

acts as opposition in the senate

House

Speaker of which chamber has more power?

Party Leaders

Committee and subcommittee membership is determined by __________

Committee chairs

leader of a congressional committee; has authority over agenda

committees

The house has more types of _______ than the senate

Ken Buck

republican from Colorado who made freshman members of committees pay dues

Standing Committees

where most work gets done; permanent and divided by policy area/ subcommittees (ex. energy, agriculture, infrastructure, etc.)

Joint Committees

contain members of house and senate; gather info for congress and focus attention on an issue

Conference Committees

temporary; house and senate resolve conflict/ differences between the house and senate versions of a Bill

Select Committees

temporary, used to investigate an issue such as a crisis or scandal

Congressional staff/ bureaucracy

assist representatives or senators by providing casework and giving info about polices, legislation, and constituent preferences (also make draft bills)

Norms

unwritten expectations of how members are supposed to act. contribute to congress (hard with party polarization)