How Congress WorksHow Congress Works

House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences

House of Representatives

• 435 members• Very formal with lots of rules• 2 year terms • 100% members up for re-election• Policy Specialists• Speaker of the House very powerful• Scheduling/rules controlled by majority party• Floor debate limited to 1 hour

House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences

Senate

• 100 members• Very informal chamber• 6 year terms• 1/3 members up for re-election • Policy Generalists• Scheduling/rules agreed to by majority & minority

leaders• Filibuster - delay tactic (usually long speech) to prevent

a floor vote on a bill• Unlimited floor debate unless cloture invoked

Party LeadershipParty LeadershipParty LeadershipParty Leadership

Democratic LeadershipDemocratic Leadership

114th Congress114th Congress

Republican LeadershipRepublican Leadership

114th Congress114th Congress

114th Congress - House LeadershipMajority Party

114th Congress - House LeadershipMajority Party

Republicans:• Speaker• Majority

Leader• Majority

Whip

Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (R-OH)

Kevin McCarthyR-CA

Steve ScaliseR-LA

114th Congress - House LeadershipMinority Party

114th Congress - House LeadershipMinority Party

Democrats:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip

Minority LeaderNancy Pelossi (D-CA)

Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D-MD)

114th Congress - Senate Leadership114th Congress - Senate LeadershipMajority PartyMajority Party

114th Congress - Senate Leadership114th Congress - Senate LeadershipMajority PartyMajority Party

President of the Senate (Vice President)

President Pro Tempore (majority party)

Republicans• Majority Leader• Majority Whip

Majority LeaderMitch McConnell

(R-KY)

President Pro TemporeOrrin Hatch (R-UT)

Majority WhipJohn Cornyn

(R-TX)

President of the SenateJoe Biden (D-DE)

114th Congress - Senate Leadership114th Congress - Senate LeadershipMinority PartyMinority Party

114th Congress - Senate Leadership114th Congress - Senate LeadershipMinority PartyMinority Party

Democrats• Minority

Leader• Minority

Whip

Harry Reid(D-NV)

Richard DurbinD-IL

"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”

- Woodrow Wilson

Types of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of Committees

Standing Committees - Permanent committees in Congress to which bills are referred

• Subcommittees – formed to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees

Select or Special Committees - groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration

Types of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of Committees

Joint Committees - includes members of both chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks

Conference Committee - includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills

Standing CommitteesStanding CommitteesStanding CommitteesStanding Committees

House Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing Committees

Agriculture

Appropriations

Armed Services

Budget

Education & Workforce

Energy & Commerce

Financial Services

Government Reform

House Admin.

International Relations

JudiciaryResourcesRulesScienceSmall BusinessStandards of Official

ConductTransportation &

InfrastructureVeterans AffairsWays & Means

See Magruder p. 330See Magruder p. 330

House Rules CommitteeHouse Rules CommitteeHouse Rules CommitteeHouse Rules Committee

a)a) Acts as Traffic Cop for bills Acts as Traffic Cop for bills from committeefrom committee

b)b) Functions of the HRC:Functions of the HRC:1.1. Place bills on calendar for floor debatePlace bills on calendar for floor debate

2.2. Set time limits for debateSet time limits for debate

3.3. Decides whether amendments may be Decides whether amendments may be added to the bill during floor debate added to the bill during floor debate Open RuleOpen Rule - amendments may be added - amendments may be added Closed RuleClosed Rule - no amendments - no amendments

Senate Standing CommitteesSenate Standing CommitteesAgriculture, Nutrition, &

Forestry

Appropriations

Armed Services

Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs

Budget

Commerce, Science, Transportation

Energy & Natural Resources

Environment and Public Works

Finance

Foreign Relations

Governmental Affairs

Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Judiciary

Rules and Administration

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Veterans Affairs

See Magruder p. 330See Magruder p. 330

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:

Function and PurposeFunction and Purpose

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

1. Consider bills (a.k.a. “mark-up” bills)

A bill with a member’s mark-up notes

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing re: the Department of Defense Budget (May, 2006)

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose

3. Conduct investigations

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hurricane Katrina (Feb., 2006