Rules for Lawmaking Each house has rules to

Rules for Lawmaking Each house has rules to conduct business Most business is carried out by committees Especially in House where membership is so large Party membership guides Congress Majority party organizes committees House must have a quorum Majority to vote on bills

House Leadership Coordinate work by meeting six goals: Organizing and unifying party members Scheduling work Ensuring lawmakers are present for key votes Distributing and collecting information Keeping the House in touch with the President Influencing lawmakers to support their party’s position

House Leadership The Speaker of the House Influence proceedings by choosing who speaks Appoints members of some committees Schedules bills for action Follows VP in line for Presidency A caucus of the majority party chooses Speaker Other House Leaders Majority leader – speaker’s assistant ▪ Floor leader, can schedule work in House Whips – assistant floor leaders Minority leader and minority whips ▪ Cannot schedule work

Lawmaking in the House Proposed law is called a bill Speaker of House sends bills to committee for review 10 -20% make it out of committee Bills surviving are placed on calendars Major bills will go to House Rules Committee Reach floor by special order Rules Committee can delay bills they do not want to come to a vote

The Senate at Work Deliberate on public policies Vice president presides over Senate Votes only to break a tie President pro tempore presides when VP is absent Majority Leader – steers party’s bills through Ensures Senators are there to vote for key bills Minority Leader – critiques majority party’s bills Keeps his/her party united

The Senate at Work Filibuster bills Extend debate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote Cloture – stops a filibuster Limits the debate by allowing Senators one hour to speak Majority party controls the flow of bills

Senate vs. House of Reps