The Senate and House of Representatives

1. The Senate and House of Representatives Mr. Lawrence Am. Gov’t

2. Structure of Congress • Bicameral Legislator • A Two House Legislator • The Great Compromise • Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could not be ignored

3. Rules of the Houses • Each house issues a book of complex rules to govern Congressional Proceedings. • These rules are Developed by the Rules Committee of each house • These are the most important Committees in each house • The Senates Rules: • Creates an informal atmosphere • Geared towards allowing Senators to freely express their ideas • The House of Reps’ Rules: • Creates strict and efficient atmosphere • Allows for the quick movement of laws through the House of Reps

4. Importance of Political Parties in Congress • Party Politics play a very important role in Congress • The Parties elect their own leaders and vote along the same lines • Division between the two groups is so strong that they sit separately • Democrats on the Left • Republicans on the Right

5. Leadership in the Houses • Each House of Congress has specific leadership roles that must be filled at the start of every session of Congress • These Leaders Have Six Duties: • Organize and Unify Party Members • Scheduling • Making sure members are present for key votes • Distributing and Collecting Information • Keep communication between their house and the President • Influence Congressmen on how to vote

6. House of Reps. Leadership • Speaker of the House: The Head Honcho • Chosen by a Caucus: Closed meeting of Majority Party Members • Member of the Majority Party • Approved by the entire House of Reps after the Caucus • Duties include • Recognizes members to speak • Scheduling • Enforces the Rules • Create Committees • Communicating with the President

7. House of Reps. Leadership Cont.Floor Leaders Kevin McCarthy • Majority and Minority Party Leaders • The Leaders of their Parties on the House Floor • Duties include: • Supporting the Speaker of the House • Organizing Party Members • Party Whips and Deputy Whips • The Assists to the Party leaders • Duties Include • Drumming up support in the Parties • Informing Party Members • The Eyes and Ears of the Party Leaders Nancy Pelosi

8. Senate Leaders • The Vice President • The Leader of the Senate according to the Constitution • However he has no power in the Senate other then to organize Senate discussion and break ties • President Pro Tempore • Means “President for the Time Being” • Usually the Longest Serving member of the Majority Party • Duties Include: • Organizing Debates • Scheduling • Communicating with the President Daniel Inouye

9. Senate Leaders Cont.Floor Leaders • Majority and Minority Party Leaders • Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps • Party Whips and Deputy Whips • Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the House of Reps

10. The Filibuster • A Product of the Unlimited Debate rule in the Senate • A Filibuster is when a Senator delays a vote by speaking for hours on end • Filibusters can only be Broken by a 3/5 vote of the Senate (60 members)