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Congressional Organization (How to Make a Law (The bill is then sent to…
Congressional Organization
Senate
2 Senators per state, serve a 6 year term.
Requirements include: 30 years of age and having lived in the USA for at least 9 years.
House of Representatives
Representatives are based off of population of the state. Serve 2 year terms, and are represented through districts.
Must be at least 25 years of age and a citizen for 7 years to be eligible as a House member.
Powers of Each House
House of Representatives
Start impeachment of proceeding officers
Initiate revenue bills
Choose the President in the event of a tie in the Electoral College
Senate
Try impeachments as a jury
Approve treaties
Advise presidential appointments
Elect VP in event of a tie in the electoral college
Committees
Legislation generally must be approved by committee before the full Senate or House can consider it
Most of the work of Congress is done in committees and their subcommittees
Committees hold much of the power in the legislative process in Congress
Select committee
A temporary committee formed to study one specific issue and report its findings to the House and Senate
Joint Committee
A committee that consists of members from both the House and Senate, formed to act as a study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill
Conference committee
A temporary joint committee set up when the House and the Senate have passed different versions of the same bill
Elections
Mid-term Election
a general election that does not coincide with the term of the president but rather two years into his presidency.
Off-year election
elections held on odd years on state level.
Runoff Election
A runoff election is sometimes (rarely) held when there are three or more candidates and none of them won a majority of the votes. It's another election between just the two top vote getters, held weeks after the first election, at great expense, and usually with a lower voter turn-out.
Special Election
an election that is held when a lawmaker dies, resigns, or is expelled from office in mid-term
General Election
a regular election of candidates for office
Leadership
Majority Leader
The Speaker's top assistant whose job is to help plan the majority party's legislature program and to steer important bills through the House
Minority Leader
ensure that members do not vote against the position of the party leaders.
Whip
Garner votes in favor of their party.
How to Make a Law
The bill is then sent to the other house. (Repeat steps 1-4.)
If the second house passes a different version the bill, members of both houses meet as a conference committee to work out disagreements. When finished, both floors vote on the new bill. It may be approved by a majority vote or rejected.
The bill is sent to the House or Senate floor, debated, and voted upon. It may be approved by a majority vote or denied.
An approved bill is then sent to the President. He may either veto (reject) the bill or sign it into law. If the President neither signs nor vetoes the bill, it becomes law in ten days.
The bill passes out of subcommittee and committee hearings if it is approved by a majority.
If the President vetoes a bill, it returns to Congress. The bill is then voted upon one last time. If Congress approves the bill with a 2/3 majority, the President's veto is overturned and the bill becomes law.
The bill is assigned to a committee. The main committee may then assign it to a subcommittee.
A bill, or an idea for a new law, is introduced in either house. Exception: All bills to raise money must originate in the House of Representatives.
Casework of House Members
Senators and representatives help voters in their district solve problems involving the bureaucracy
Good constituent casework is effective in winning reelection; Congressional staffs focus on casework as much as legislation
Staff Structure
Administrative assistant
A member of a lawmaker's personal staff who runs the lawmaker's office, supervises the schedule, and gives advice
Personal staff
representatives
Committee staff
The people who work for the Senate and the House committees
Caseworker
A member of lawmaker's personal staff who handles requests for help from constituents
Legislature assistant
A member of a lawmaker's personal staff who makes certain that the lawmaker is well informed about proposed legislation
Support Organizations
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Oversight of government spending
Library of Congress
Research services and studies
Congressional staffs
Perform most of the actual work relating to legislation, constituent casework, etc.