what are committees and subcommittees?
groups of legislators who study proposed acts of congress
who are new bills referred to?
a committee, then usually to 1 of its subcommittees
Specialization
each standing (permanent) committee focuses on a particular type of bill
why are subcommittees more specialized?
they research & hold hearings on bills.
They approve, defeat or amend them, as the majority of their members vote.
approved bills are sent to the full committee for a vote.
after committees where does the bill go?
The floor for a vote by the entire house
How can the committee chairmen kill a bill?
by not scheduling them for hearings
who selects the chairmen?
majority party
after bills are approved by a committee where do they go?
the floor for a vote by entire house
floor debate Hold
bills cannot be voted on until the requesting senator is notified
(warning the senator doesn't like bill, & is ready to take action)
Filibuster
an attempt by one or more senators to talk a bill to death
how can filibusters end?
if both senators vote for cloture (30hr debate limit)
bills must pass both houses in identical versions before being sent to who?
the president
What does the conference committee do?
Harmonize different versions of the same bill
who is the conference committee made up of?
members from each house, appointed by committee chairmen
where does a bill go after the conference committee?
sent back to each house for a vote.
If it passes, it then goes to the president for consideration
How is the Speaker of the House elected?
start of each new congress
majority party's choice wins
Who presides over the House of Representatives?
(run meetings & keep order)
Speaker of the House
who refers a bill to committee
Speaker of the House Of Representatives
Who does the House of Representatives help appoint?
majority party's house members to committees
How are the house floor leaders elected?
both party cancuses elect one
majority's party choice=majority leader
minority's party choice=minority leader
What does the house majority leader do?
helps the speaker schedule bills for debate
(earlier=better)
What does the house minority leader do?
that party's chief spokesperson in the House
How are The House & Senate Whips elected?
both party cancuses elect one
majority's party choice=majority leader
minority's party choice=minority leader
what do senate whips do?
whip members into line before important votes
how do House & Senate Whips influence members
with verbal persuasion or threats
Who is the Senate President?
the U.S Vice President
What does the senate president do?
breaks tie votes and presides over meetings
how are the senate floor leaders elected?
both party cancuses elect one
majority's party choice=majority leader
minority's party choice=minority leader
What do senate floor majority leader do
schedules bills for debate, & is that party's chief spokesperson in the senate
What do senate floor minority leader do
that party's chief spokesperson in the senate
recent important duty for minority leader
leading filibusters
House of Representatives age to serve
at least 25 years old
House of Representatives state residency to serve
must have lived in the U.S for at least 7 years
How long do the house of representatives members serve for?
435
2 years
The house of representative seats are appointed based on what?
relative population of state
how many representatives do voters elect for The house of representative?
1
Age requirement for Senate
30 years old
Senate state residency requirement to serve
9 years
How long do Senate members serve?
100
6 years
1/3 elected every 2yrs
How many senators does each state have?
2 senators
What did the 17th Amendment change?
Senators are elected by the people rather than chosen by state legislatures.
The Necessary & Proper Clause (elastic clause)
implied powers
Implied commerce powers are nearly unlimited
The Senate alone
approves presidential appointments, treaties (2/3) vote, and tries impeached gov officials (2/3 vote to convict)
Incumbency factor
media access
greater name recognition for news-making incumbents
pork barrel
taking credit for bringing federal projects & money to their district/state
casework
having paid staff assist w/ bureaucratic problems
ex. getting/ finding government checks for constituents
franking privilege
congress members get unlimited free mail
war chest
funds collected by a candidate to spend on a political campaign
McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
limits campaign ads that criticize candidates, making it harder for lesser-known challengers to compete