Differences in House and Senate

1
Differences in House and Senate
2
Constitutional

• House

• Senate

• 435 Members (apportioned by population)
• Two Year Terms
• Initiates all Revenue Bills
• Initiates impeachment procedures

• 100 members (2 from each State)
• Six-year terms. 1/3rd up for reelection every 2
  years
• Offers Advice and Consent on many major
  presidential appointments
• Tries Impeached officials
• Ratifies Treaties

3
Operation

• House

• Senate

• More Organized
• Rules Committee
• Sets the Calendar for the House. (Gatekeeper)
• Sets the Rules for debate
• Germane/Non Germane
• Open/Closed
• Time Limits

• Less Organized
• No Rules Committee
• Gives the Senate the ability to
  Filibuster
• Cloture ends a filibuster

4
Leadership

• House

• Senate

• Speaker of the House
• Most powerful person in the Legislative Branch
• Majority/Minority Leader
• Head of the Party in the House
• Elected in Party Caucus
• Majority/Minority Whip
• Organizes the party during votes and keeps tabs
  on rogue members

• Vice President
• Constitutional Leader
• Duties?
• President Pro Tempore
• Bangs the Gavel
• Majority Leader
• DE FACTO LEADER OF SENATE
• Minority Leader
• Majority/Minority Whip

5
Committee System

• The INNER WORKINGS OF CONGRESS!!!!!
• The Work that takes place in the committee and
  subcommittee rooms of Capitol Hill is critical to
  the productivity and effectiveness of Congress
• Write Laws and Conduct Legislative Oversight
• 4 Types of Committees
• Standing
• Joint
• Conference
• Select or Special Committee

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Why Committees?

• Why do we have specific Committees in Congress?
• Specialization
• Efficiency
• Logrolloing/Reciproicty

7
Committees

• Standing Committees
• Permanent Subject Matter Committees
• What are some?
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Subcommittees
• Aviation
• Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
• Highway and Transit
• Railroads and Pipelines
• Highly Specialized!!! Where the bills are written
  and Congressional Oversight Takes Place

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Joint and Special

• Joint Committees
• Committees consisting of members of the House and
  Senate
• Economic Committee
• Select or Special Committees
• Temporary Committees which deal with a specific
  subject
• 9/11 Committee

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Conference Committee

• A joint committee which reconciles the
  differences between House and Senate Bills