Legislative Branch Review

Comparing the House and Senate

House of Representatives

  • More centralized and hierarchical.

  • Party loyalty is vital; leadership influences voting patterns.

  • Speaker appoints committee members and initiates revenue bills.

  • Has the power to impeach officials and select the president in case of electoral college failure.

Senate

  • Less centralized and more flexible.

  • Responsible for ratifying treaties and confirming major presidential nominations.

  • Tries impeached officials; leaders facilitate bill schedules.

  • Known as the "Cooling Saucer" for deliberation.

Both Houses

  • Responsibilities include passing legislation and maintaining oversight of the executive branch.

House Leadership

  • Speaker of the House: Elected leader controlling bills, committees, and presidential liaisons.

  • Majority and Minority Leaders: Assist respective party positions and organize strategy.

  • Whips: Manage party voting dynamics.

Senate Leadership

  • President of the Senate: Vice President presides; the absence is managed by the President pro tempore.

  • Majority and Minority Leaders: Influence bill passage and strategy.

  • Whips: Synchronize voting efforts.

The Committee System

  • Essential for legislative work; Congress relies on committees to manage workloads.

  • Committees enable specialization and expedite passes on legislation.

Committee Leadership and Members

  • Primarily composed of the majority party’s members.

  • Chairs set legislative agendas and control hearings and discussions.

Types of Committees

Standing Committees

  • Permanent bodies handling specific subject matters.

Joint Committees

  • Composed of members from both houses, often permanent.

Conference Committees

  • Temporary groups resolving differences between House and Senate bills.

Select Committees

  • Created for short-term purposes or specific issues.

Important Committees

House of Representatives

  • 19 standing committees; critical ones include: Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations, Armed Services.

Senate

  • 17 standing committees; critical ones include: Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Judiciary, Finance.

Caucuses

  • Informal groups within Congress that promote shared interests and policy goals.

Committees in Legislation

  • Analyzing the legislative process involving bill submission and committee review.

  • Process:

  • Introduction to a standing committee.

  • Assignment to relevant subcommittees for detailed study.

  • Committee conducts research and reviews, then presents findings.

  • Marked-up bill proceeds for full House/Senate debate and voting.

Legislative Oversight

  • Monitoring implementation of executive policies through hearings.

  • Increased need for oversight based on failures (e.g., response to disasters).

The Lawmaking Process

  • Bills or proposed laws, may begin in either house, except revenue bills, which must begin in the House of Representatives

House Steps

  1. A bill is introduced, numbered, and assigned to committee. May be assigned to a subcommittee for further study

  2. The bill is returned to committee where it is approved or rejected

  3. The rules Committee sets terms for debate for the bill

  4.  The bill is debated by the house

  5. A vote is taken, where the bill is passed or defeated. Bills that pass the house are sent to the Senate 

Senate Steps

  1. A bill is introduced, numbered, and assigned to committee. May be assigned to a subcommittee for further study

  2. The bill is returned to committee where it is approved or rejected

  3. No rules committee

  4. The bill is debated by the Senate

  5. A vote is taken, where the bill is passed or defeated. Bills that pass the house are sent to the Senate

Conference Committee

  • A committee that resolves discrepancies between versions from the House and Senate.

Presidential Actions on Bills

  • Presidents have options:

  • Sign, veto, allow to become law, or issue a pocket veto.

  • Vetoes can be overridden by two-thirds majority in Congress.

Legislative Tactics Influencing Congress

Common Tactics

  • Caucuses: Create voting blocks based on shared interests.

  • Committee System: Difficulties may arise within committees that prevent bill progress.

  • Discharge Petitions: Force bills to the floor in the House.

  • Filibuster/Cloture: Controlling debates in the Senate.

  • Holds and Unanimous Consent: Informal agreements impacting bill considerations.

Continued Legislative Tactics

  • Pork Barrel Legislation: Gathering funds for local projects.

  • Logrolling: Exchanging favors among legislators.

  • Riders: Non-related amendments to bills.

  • Lobbying: Influencing legislative decisions through outside groups.

Influences on Congress

  • Constituent Opinions: Powerful public views from voters.

  • Party Dynamics: Influences voting behavior, particularly among House members.

  • Presidential Lobbying: Direct contact to sway Congress on bills or issues.

  • Interest Groups: Provide data and aim to influence members’ decisions.

Congressional Roles and Privileges

Roles

  • Policy Maker: Drives legislation focusing on constituents’ needs.

  • Politician: Balances between delegate and trustee roles based on issue significance.

Privileges

  • Benefits such as allowances, immunity during congressional business, and free postal service.

Budget in Congress

Spending Types

  • Mandatory Spending: Required expenditures for existing programs like Social Security.

  • Discretionary Spending: Optional fiscal policies involving defense, education, etc

Divided Government and Gridlock

  • Conditions of one party controlling the presidency while another has Congressional majority, leading to political stalemate and legislative difficulty.