Chapter 12:1
o WHAT: Explain how the House and Senate begin new terms.
o WHAT: Contrast the roles of the Speaker of the House and president of the Senate.
o WHAT: Identify the floor leaders in Congress and the source of their powers.
o WHAT: Explain how committee chairs are chosen and their role in the legislative process.
o WHY: 12.4(1) Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of
representatives and senators; election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings; the role of the vice president; the
enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill becomes a law.
• Ezr_7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set
magistrates and judges, which may judge all the
people that are beyond the river, all such as know the
laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
PROJECT ACTIVITY:
o As a class, write classroom rules for the class. As a class, you will debate and vote on rules. The
rules will be presented to the teacher if he would sign it into law or not.
o Remember classroom rules must conform to the Bible and the student handbook (SGA
Constitution). If the teacher vetoes the rule, then 2/3d of the class is needed to overturn the veto.
o Then final authority of approving classroom rule will go to administration since they are the ones that interprets the law in SGA.
Congress Convenes:
o Congress begins a new term every two years.
o On January 3, of every odd-number year following the November general elections.
o 435 men and women elected to the
House come together at the Capitol to begin a new term.
OPENING DAY OF THE HOUSE:
o All 435 seats have either be elected or reelected.
o The session begins anew.
o It is here where all 435 members are sworn in to begin office.
o The Speaker of the House, the presiding officer of the House is chosen by the
majority party before opening day.
o Members of the 19 permanent committees of the House are appointed by a floor vote.
o With this, the House is organized.
OPENING DAY IN THE SENATE:
o The Senate is a continuous body.
o The first session was in 1789 and has been organized without
interruption.
o Only one-third of the seats are up for election every two years.
o From one term to another, two- thirds of the senate is carried over.
THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE:
o When the Senate is notified that the House is organized.
o A Joint committee of the two is appointed and instructed.
o Within a few weeks the
President delivers the State of the Union Address to a joint session of congress.
o This speech is a major political event.
Who Attends The State of the Union Address:
o Members of both houses.
o Members of the cabinet.
o The justices of the Supreme Court
o The foreign diplomatic corps o Other dignitaries.
Who Attends The State of the Union Address:
o They meet in the House chamber.
o The President reports on the State of the Nation.
o It is televised live.
o The President shares what he or she see’s of the state of the nation.
• DISCUSSION QUESTION:
• If you were President of the United States, and you were giving the State of the Union address, how would you describe the
status of the nation?
• What special things do you feel the
government needs to work on to make
American great again?
THE PRESIDING OFFICERS: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE:
o Is the most influential and important member of the House.
o Is considered the leader of the majority party of the House.
o He or she presides over the House and keeps order.
o Has major influence on what bills will be heard and considered.
o Is third in line for the presidency, behind the Vice President.
POWERS OF THE SPEAKER:
o Expected to preside in a fair and judicious manner.
o Expected to aid the fortunes of their own party and its legislative goals.
o Speaker presides over all sessions of the House, or appoints a
temporary presiding officer.
o No member may speak until recognized by the Speaker.
POWERS OF THE SPEAKER:
o Interprets and applies the rules.
o Refers bills, to the Standing committees.
o Rules on points of order (questions of procedure raised by members),
o Puts questions to a vote, and decides the outcome of most of the votes taken.
o Names the members of all select and conference committees.
o Signs all bills and resolutions passed by the House.
POWERS OF THE SPEAKER:
o The speaker may debate and vote on any matter before the House.
o But if he/she chooses to do so he/she must appoint a
temporary presiding officer.
o (The speaker pro tempore), and that member then occupies the Speaker’s chair.
POWERS OF THE SPEAKER:
o The speaker does not often vote.
o The House rules say that
he/she must vote only to break a tie.
o Because a tie vote defeats a question, the speaker can
occasionally vote to cause a tie and so defeat a proposal.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
o Is the Vice President of the United States.
o Less powerful than the house speaker.
o Like the speaker of the House he has power as the presiding officer.
o Cannot debate on the floor.
o Can only vote to break a tie.
President Pro Tempore:
o Serves in the Vice President’s absence.
o The president, pro tem is elected by the Senate itself.
o Is always a leading member of the majority party.
FLOOR LEADERS AND OTHER PARTY OFFICERS:
o Floor leaders is next to the speaker, the most powerful position in Congress.
o Both the house and Senate have floor leaders for each party (4)
o They serve as strategists trying to get their party’s legislative agenda in the best position.
o They are assisted by party whips who help unify the party to vote on critical issues.
Caucus/Party Conference:
o Closed meeting of the members of each party in each house.
o It meets just before Congress convenes in January and occasionally during a
session.
o It deals mostly with matters of party organization.
o Such as the selection of the party’s floor leaders and questions of committee
membership.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN:
o The bulk of the work of Congress, especially in the House, done in committees.
o Chosen from the majority party.
o Decides when the committee should meet.
o Decide which bills they will consider and determine if they need public hearings.
o And attempts to help have the bill pass if it is to his or her liking.
Seniority Rule:
o The seniority rule is, in fact, an
unwritten custom since the 1800s.
o Still closely followed today in both houses.
o Those members of Congress who have served the longest will hold the most important posts.
o The rule is applied most strictly to the choice of committee chairman.
• In Class Assignment (Work In pairs)
• In your guided notes is Chapter 12:1 in class assignment. The first team to
complete it in class and share what they
have will have a drop quiz. Refer to your
textbook and power-points.
Chapter 12:2
o WHAT: Explain why the committee system is necessary.
o WHAT: Identify the different kinds of committees in congress.
o WHAT: Explain the key role of the House Rules Committee.
o WHAT: Explain the importance of congressional investigative powers.
o WHY: 12.4(1) Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative
branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of representatives and senators;
election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings; the role of the vice president; the enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill
becomes a law.
• Pro_24:6 For by wise
counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of
counsellors there is safety.
Standing Committees:
o Permanent group to which similar bills are sent.
o There are 19 in the House and 17 in the Senate
o Each house committee has from 9 to 74 members.
o Each senate committee has from 12 to 28.
o Rules in the House as a representative serving in one committee.
o In the Senate they can serve in two major panels.
Standing Committees:
o Most standing committees handle bills dealing with particular policy matters, such as veteran affairs or foreign
relations (subject matters).
o However there are four standing committees that do not operate as subject matter bodies.
Standing Committees:
o When a bill is introduced in either house.
o The Speaker or the president of the Senate refers the measure to the appropriate standing committee.
o The chairman is chosen by seniority rule.
o The majority party holds the majority of seats in the committee.
Subcommittees:
o Most standing committees are divided into subcommittees.
o Divisions on standing committees that do most of the committees’ work.
o Each subcommittee is responsible for a portion of the committee’s workload.
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE:
o Called the traffic cop of the lower house.
o The Rules Committee determines what bills actually go to the floor for consideration.
o The committee decides whether and under what conditions the full House will consider a measure.
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE:
o The 13-member Rules Committee can speed, delay, or even prevent house action on a measure.
o In the Senate, the majority floor
leader controls the appearance of bills on the floor.
SELECT COMMITTEES:
o This is a special group set up for some specific purpose and, most often, for a limited time.
o The Speaker of the House or the
president of the senate appoints the
members of these special committees.
o With the advice of the majority and minority leaders.
o Most select committees are formed to investigate a current matter.
SELECT COMMITTEES:
o It investigates to decide on the need for new laws and the adequacy of the laws it already passed.
o It also provides oversight (police) the Executive Branch Agencies are
following policy passed by Congress.
o And investigates a matter to provide attention to a certain topic.
SELECT COMMITTEES:
o It must exercise its oversight function to ensure that executive agencies are working according to the policies
congress has set by law.
o Congress sometimes conducts an
investigation to focus public attention on some topic.
SELECT COMMITTEES:
o Most congressional investigations are conducted by standing committees or by their subcommittees.
o However, select committees sometimes perform the work.
o Select committees included the
Iran/Contra Committee and also the Watergate Committee.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
• What important issues should congress
hold hearings and investigate today? (list
3 and explain why).
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Do you think getting celebrities to testify for
a congressional subcommittee is a good use
of tax-payers money?
JOINT COMMITTEES:
o A joint committee is one composed of members from both houses.
o Some are select committees set up to serve some temporary purpose.
o Most are permanent groups that serve on a regular basis.
ACTIVITY:
Two volunteers represent two bills that are different slightly on women signing up for
selective service. One version of the bill has women can voluntarily sign up for selective
service and the other version of the bill has the need that women must sign up for selective
service. Have three people represent the
house and senate and their objective is to
negotiate a compromise of the bill.
CONFERENCES COMMITTEES:
o Both Houses must pass an identical bill in order for it to be sent to the
President.
o When there are differences in the bill among the two houses the
Conference Committee irons out the differences.
o To produce a compromise bill that both houses will accept.
• Chapter Project:
• Classroom Rule Project Time.
Chapter 12:3
o WHAT: Explain the lawmaking process in both houses in Congress.
o WHAT: Identify the kinds of measures involved in the lawmaking process.
o WHAT: Describe the steps in the lawmaking process in the House of Representatives.
o WHY: 12.4(1) Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of representatives and senators; election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment
proceedings; the role of the vice president;
the enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill becomes a law.
• (Psa 105:45) That they might observe his statutes, and
keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Introduction: House of Representatives
o Over 10,000 bills are introduced to
the House/Senate) in a Congressional term.
o Fewer than 10 percent become law.
o Bills are proposed laws, or drafts of laws.
o Presented to the House or Senate for enactment.
BILLS COME FROM: House of Representatives
o Most come from the Executive Branch Agencies.
o Private Interest Groups o Private Citizens.
Introduction: House of Representatives
o All bills dealing with raising of revenue (taxes) originate from the House of
Representatives.
o The Senate may propose or concur amendments as on other bills.
o Measures dealing with any other
matter may be introduced into either house.
Two Types of Bills:
o Public Bills: Measures applying to the nation as a whole.
o Private bills are those measures that apply to certain persons or places
rather than to the nation generally.
ACTIVITY:
o One volunteer represents a bill to add at least one long weekend per month for
workers. The rider for the bill is that there will be a $1.00 video game tax for each
video game purchase. Clerk Needed with Hopper. Volunteers will represent full
committee, committee as a whole, and go
through final debate and vote.
PATH OF THE BILL:
o Only House members can introduce bills in the house.
o They drop them into a box on the edge of the clerk’s desk called the “hopper.”
o Clerk of the house numbers for each bill as it is introduced and enters it into the Congressional Record.
Path of the Bill:
o A bill usually deals with a single subject.
o But sometimes a rider dealing with an unrelated matter is included.
o A rider is a provision not likely to pass on its own and is attached to an
important measure sure to pass.
o And an opposing president has no choice but to sign the bill.
PATH OF THE BILL:
o Each bill finally passed in either house has three readings along the legislative route.
o At first reading, the speaker refers the bill to the appropriate standing committee with jurisdiction over the bill’s subject matter.
o The Second Reading comes during floor consideration, if the measure gets that far.
o Reading take place just before the final vote on the measure.
THE BILL IN COMMITTEE:
o Standing committee filters out bad bills.
o Most bills die in committee.
o Subcommittees begin its work under existing committees, investigate
specific issues.
o Calls witnesses and holds hearings.
o Also may take a junket trip to the
affected area to investigate further.
THE BILL IN COMMITTEE:
o When subcommittee has completed its work on a bill, then it goes to full
committee.
o The full committee can report the bill favorably “do pass” recommendation.
o It is up to the chairman of the
committee to steer the bill through the debate on the floor.
o The full committee can refuse to report the bill and the bill dies.
THE BILL IN COMMITTEE:
o The Full committee can report the bill in amended form.
o Many bills change in committee and several bills on the same subject may be combined into one measure.
THE BILL IN COMMITTEE:
o Can report the bill with an unfavorable recommendation.
o It goes to the floor for debate because the committee does not want to take the responsibility for killing it.
THE BILL IN COMMITTEE:
o Report a committee bill.
o Entire new bill that the committee has substituted for one or several bills
referred to.
THE BILL ON THE FLOOR: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE o When a bill reaches the floor, it receives
its second reading in the House.
o Many bills are considered minor, with little opposition and are disposed with quickly.
o To move the bill to a faster pace the
House can become one large committee of itself.
o Called the Committee of the Whole.
o Nearly all important measures go through committee as a whole.
COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE:
o This is the House sitting not as itself but as one large committee.
o Its rules are much less strict than the rules of the House.
o Floor action moves along at a faster pace.
COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE:
o A quorum, majority of the full
membership, 218 must be present in order for the House to do business.
o However, only 100 members need be present in the Committee of the
Whole.
COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE:
o The speaker steps down.
o Because the full House of
Representatives is no longer in session.
o Another member presides.
o General debate begins.
o The bill is read section by section.
o Amendments can be proposed.
o Supporters and opponents of the
amendment has five minutes to make their cases.
THE BILL ON THE FLOOR:
o When the committee finishes going through the bill section by section its work is complete.
o The members rise and the committee dissolves itself.
o The House is now back in session.
DEBATE:
o Members can only hold the floor an hour.
o More than an hour needs unanimous consent.
o Speaker has the power to force any member who goes off topic to give up the floor.
o Majority and minority leader generally decide in advance how they will split time in debating the bill.
DEBATE:
o Any time, any member may “move the previous question.”
o That is, any member may demand a vote on the issue before the House.
o If that motion passes, only 40
minutes of further debate are allowed before a vote is taken.
o This device is the only motion that can be used in the House to close (end) debate.
Voting
o Bill may be subject to several votes on the floor.
o The members must vote on each of these motions.
ACTIVITY:
Demonstrate Voice Vote, Standing Vote,
Teller Vote, Roll Call Vote.
Four Different Methods of Voting:
o Voice votes are most common
(“Ayes” and Nays”) spoken in chorus and Speaker announces results.
o If any member thinks the Speaker erred in the voice vote then can demand a standing vote who is counted by a clerk.
Four Different Methods of Voting:
o One-fifth of a quorum (44 members in the House or 20 in the committee of the whole) can demand a teller vote.
o Speaker appoints two tellers.
o One from each party and members
between them are counted for and against.
o (rare today since votes are electronic) o A roll-call vote may be demanded by one-
fifth of the members present.
o Most now done by computer with computer work stations.
FINAL STAGE:
o Once a bill has been approved at second reading.
o it is engrossed (printed in its final form).
o Then it is read a third time by title, and a final vote is taken.
o If the bill is approved at third reading, it is signed by the speaker.
o A page or legislative aid then takes it to the senate and places it on the senate president’s desk.
Discussion Question:
o What laws do you think Congress should
pass for the good of the nation today?
• Chapter Project:
• Continue Classroom Rules Project
proposals and amendments.
Chapter 12:4: Bills in the Senate
o WHAT: Compare the lawmaking process of both houses.
o WHAT: Explain why conference committees are sometimes called the “third house.”
o WHAT: Define filibuster and cloture.
o WHAT: Explain options after both houses have passed a bill.
o WHY: 12.4(1) Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of
representatives and senators; election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings; the role of the vice president; the
enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill becomes a law.
• (Psa 105:45) That they might observe his statutes, and
keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Introducing the Bill in the Senate:
o Bills are introduced by senators
o Who are formally recognized for that purpose.
o A measure is then given a number and short title, read twice, and
referred to committee.
o Senate’s proceedings are less formal and rules less strict than the House.
SENATE RULES FOR DEBATE:
o The major differences in House and Senate procedure involves debate.
o Floor debate is strictly limited in the House.
o But almost unrestrained in the Senate.
DEBATE:
o Senators may speak on the floor as long as they please.
o There is no rule that they speak only to the measure under consideration.
o Unlike the House, the Senate’s rules do not allow the moving of the
previous question (e.g., ending the debate).
DEBATE:
o Senate’s consideration of most bills are previously agreed by the majority and minority leaders.
o Discussion ends and the senators’ vote at a time that is previously agreed by the leaders.
o This is called the unanimous consent agreements.
o But if any senator objects—prevents unanimous consent, the device fails.
o It has freedom of debate.
The Filibuster:
o Is an attempt to “talk a bill to death.”
o A stalling tactic.
o A process in which a minority of senators seek to delay or prevent senate action on a measure.
o Filibuster tries to monopolize the Senate floor.
o Its time that the Senate must either drop the bill or change it in some manner acceptable to the minority.
The Filibuster:
o Talk and more talk is the filibusters.
o Longest recently is 24 hours 18 minutes from Strom Thurman on the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
CLOTURE RULE:
o The check for filibuster is the cloture rule.
o It allows for limited debate in the senate.
o The rule is not in regular continuing force.
o It can be brought into play only by a special procedure.
CLOTURE RULE:
o A petition is submitted by at least 16 members of the Senate calling for the action.
o A vote to invoke the rule must be taken two days after the petition.
o IF at least 60 senators, three-fifths of the full senate vote for the
motion.
o The rule becomes effective.
CLOTURE RULE:
o No more than 30 hours of floor time may be spent on that
measure.
o Then it must be brought to a final vote.
CLOTURE RULE IS RARE BECAUSE:
o Their dedication to the Senate’s tradition of free debate.
o Their practical worry that the frequent use of cloture will
undercut the value of the filibuster that they may some day want to use.
CONFERNCE COMMITTEE
o When House and Senate have different versions of the bill.
o Then a conference committee is established.
o A temporary joint committee of the two houses.
o It seeks to iron out the differences and come up with a compromise bill.
o Rarely does either house turn down work of the conference committee.
CONFERNCE COMMITTEE
o This is because:
o The powerful membership of the typical conference committee.
o The fact that its report usually comes in the midst of the rush to
adjournment at the end of a congressional session.
Four Constitutional Options of the President:
o The President may sign the bill, and it then becomes law.
o The President may veto-refuse to sign the bill.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS:
o The measure then must be
returned to the house in which it originated.
o Together with the president’s objections (a veto message).
o Congress may then pass the bill over the President’s veto.
o By a two-thirds vote of the members of each house.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS:
o The President may allow the bill to become law without signing it.
o By not acting on it within 10
days, not counting Sundays, of receiving it.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS:
o The fourth option is a variation of the third called the pocket veto.
o If Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President.
o The President does not act, the measure dies.
