Government CHP 12

Opening day in Congress:

Opening day in Congress:

Opening day: January 3

What roles do the Speaker of the House play?

• Recognize any speaker (someone who wants to address the body)

• Interprets and applies rules (as the see fit)

• Motions for votes to be taken

Know the Leadership of both houses, speakers, majority and minority floor leaders, etc

• Minority Floor Leader:  the leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house

• Majority Floor Leader: leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress

• Whips: assistant floor leaders

How many permanent committees in the House are there? Senate?

• House: 20

• Senate: 16

President of the Senate (who,what,why)

• Is the vice president

• Not a member of the Senate and less powerful than the Speaker of the House

• Job: 1) recognize members 2) put questions to vote

President Pro Tempore (who,what,why)

• Services in the VP’s absences

• Elected by Senate vote- majority party’s leading member, prestigious position because of longevity and respect

What does the party caucus do?

It is a closed meeting of the members of each party in the House. They mostly deal with matters related to party organization

Role of Committee Chairman?

• Determines:

  • When the committee meets

  • What bills come up for discussion

  • What public hearings are scheduled

  • Makes or breaks most bills, over 80 percent of bills die in committee

How does the Seniority rule work in reference to the appointment of who gets what committee post and who the chair is?

The most important posts in Congress will be held by the party members with the longest record of service. Most strictly applied to choice of committee chairman.  The head of each committee is almost always the longest serving majority party member of that committee. 

What is a criticism of Seniority Rule?

Discourages younger members because it ignores ability and rewards only length of service

Almost all committees deal with specific issues, all subcommittees deal with what?

Each is responsible for a piece of the overall workload. There are 78 subcommittees

Know at least a few important standing committees in both houses

• House: Rules, Homeland Security, Armed Forces 

• Senate: Veterans affairs, Budget and financing, Judiciary

Who is the “Traffic Cop” in the House of Representatives? Why is it called this?

• House Rules Committee

• They screen potential bills after they have been approved by their proper committee

What does “granting a rule” mean?

Granting a rule- decides if the floor will consider the bill

Difference between Specific and Select committees:

• Specific Committee- specific purpose, limited time

• Select Committee- conduct studies/hold hearings- brings greater awareness to problems facing Americans

What is a joint committee also used for amendments? What is a Conference Committees Job?

• Joint Committee- one that has members from both houses

• Conference Committee- joint body created to solve the problem of differences, comes up with a compromise (if no compromise, bill dies)

• Ex.: Printing, taxing committees

Know the different types of bills:

• Private- apply to an individual

• Public- apply to nation as a whole (tax measures)

Difference between joint and concurrent resolution:

• Joint- are like laws but only have to do with short term or unusual circumstances

• Concurrent- deals with rules and regulations that both houses have to settle

What is a Rider?

Attached to a bill sure to pass, usually unrelated (pork) or stimulus bill.

Know how a bill is numbered given a title and the purpose of each:

Numbered it as it is introduced. Title is short that helps people remember the key points of the bill

Know what the Congressional Record is and what it does.

A record that records major speeches or bills (not word for word). Includes speeches, debates, comments, votes, motions

Why are the 3 readings of a bill in Congress?

• Originally because many members of Congress were illiterate 

  • 1 reading: bill introduced

  • 2nd reading: refresh memories and add riders

  • 3rd reading: bring it up for a vote

Committees are super powerful. What is their main job? What does “pigeonholed” mean?

• Pigeonhole- deem a bill unwise or unnecessary, which kills the bill or stops the process

• Committees main job is to sift through bills and get rid of unworthy legislation

What is a discharge petition for?

Blasting a bill out of the committee and taken to a vote on the floor

What is a Junket and who pays for it?

A trip to a location to gather information at the public expense

What are the 5 things “actions”: that a committee can do to a bill?

• Do pass: chairman helps bill to pass

• Pigeonhole: refuse to let it out

• Amend it or combine it with others on the same subject

• Turn it out with an unfavorable title: Playing politics

• Write an entirely new bill

Committee of the Whole

Used to speed up the legislative process

Quorum:

• The minimum number of representatives to conduct business 

• 218 members present for house; 51 for senate

Define 5 minute rule:

A member offering a bill is allowed to speak 5 minutes in its favor. Followed by someone speaking against it for 5 minutes then debate is closed. 

What does “move to the previous question mean? 

Calling for a vote. If this is passed there is no minutes left of debate

The House has four different methods of voting:

• Voice Votes (Ayes and Nays) 

• Standing Votes- if too close to tell by voice votes

• Teller Vote- replaced by electronic voting 

• Roll Call Vote- makes sure at least ⅕ members are present

How are Senate bills different than the House?

• They are less formal and less strict 

• When a bill reaches the floor it is read for a second time and final readings are printed and taken to the Senate

Rules of Debate: 

• Two speech rule: there is no rule about content or how long in the Senate

• Senate is dedicated to freedom of debate

What is a filibuster?

Literally talking a bill to death  

Cloture Rule:

• What does it do? Limits debate

• How many members must vote for it? 60

• How long can they debate after? 30 hours 

• Why do most members not use it? They are dedicated to free debate and they don’t want it used on them

When bills travel through one house and then the other, changes happen. If changes can’t be ratified, Conference Committees job is to do what?

• To come up with compromise both houses accept 

• Limitations- if they both don’t agree bill just dies 

What are the 4 things the president can do when a bill lands on his desk?

• Sign in

• Veto it

• Allow it to become law without signature

• Pocket Veto 

Know a few of the 5 calendars 

• House calendar

• Private calendar

• Corrections calendar

• Discharge calendar

• Calendar of Committee of the whole house

Know this chart:

What is opening day like in the House v. Senate?

House: Clerk calls to order, takes roll

Senate: Newly elect/reelect members of the political parties are sworn in and assigned to committees.

Define State of the Union:

• Speech over the political state of the nation, the world, and the economy position of the country.

• Given by the Pres. usually within a few days of opening of Congress.

Where do Dem. and Rep. sit during the State of the Union Address?

From the Pres. seat Dem. are on the right, and Rep. on the left.

Floor Leaders:

• Not an elected position

• They are picked by their party, and both parties have them

• They are the chief spokesperson of their party

Approx. how many committees would one serve on as a house member? Senate Member?

• Rep. will serve on 1

• Sen. will serve on 3 or 4

What percentage of bills die in committee?

80%

What is the journal/minutes?

A word for word account of the days actions; where a bill goes after the first reading.

What is a standing committee?

Permanent committees with specific responsibilities outlined in the rules of each chamber