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
Quiz

• List 2 ways the President lobbies Congress?
• Who is the constitutional leader of the Senate
• Why are there no filibusters in the House?
• What are permanent subject matter committees
  called?
• Who/Whom elects the Speaker of the House

5
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

6
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

7
Committees

• Standing Committees
• Permanent Subject Matter Committees
• What are some?
• Joint Committees
• Includes members from both Houses of Congress
• Conference Committees
• Reconcile Differences between House and Senate
  bills
• Select Committees
• Temporary Committees
• There is a select committee on Global Warming

8
Committees Chairs

• Most powerful people in Congress
• Appointed by the Majority Leader of House and
  Senate
• It used to be based on Seniority, but Newt and
  his Contract with America changed it from a
  Spoils System to a Merit System
• Guess what party has all of the Committee Chairs?
• Chairs pick and Choose what bills will be
  submitted to the Floor and what bills will be
  exiled