The Senate and House of
Representatives
Mr. Lawrence
Am. Gov’t
Structure of Congress

Bicameral Legislator


A Two House Legislator
The Great Compromise

Created the Bicameral Legislator to ensure the minority could
not be ignored
Rules of the Houses


Each house issues a book of complex rules to govern
Congressional Proceedings.
These rules are Developed by the Rules Committee of
each house

These are the most important Committees in each house
The Senates Rules:
• Creates an informal
atmosphere
• Geared towards allowing
Senators to freely express
their ideas
The House of Reps’ Rules:
• Creates strict and
efficient atmosphere
• Allows for the quick
movement of laws through
the House of Reps
Importance of Political Parties in Congress

Party Politics play a very important role in Congress

The Parties elect their own leaders and vote along the
same lines

Division between the two groups is so strong that they
sit separately


Democrats on the Left
Republicans on the Right
Leadership in the Houses


Each House of Congress has specific leadership roles that
must be filled at the start of every session of Congress
These Leaders Have Six Duties:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Organize and Unify Party Members
Scheduling
Making sure members are present for key votes
Distributing and Collecting Information
Keep communication between their house and the
President
Influence Congressmen on how to vote
House of Reps. Leadership

Speaker of the House: The Head Honcho




Chosen by a Caucus: Closed meeting of Majority Party
Members
Member of the Majority Party
Approved by the entire House of Reps after the Caucus
Duties include





Recognizes members to speak
Scheduling
Enforces the Rules
Create Committees
Communicating with the President
House of Reps. Leadership Cont.
Floor Leaders

Majority and Minority Party Leaders


The Leaders of their Parties on the House Floor
Duties include:



Kevin McCarthy
Supporting the Speaker of the House
Organizing Party Members
Party Whips and Deputy Whips


The Assists to the Party leaders
Duties Include



Drumming up support in the Parties
Informing Party Members
The Eyes and Ears of the Party Leaders
Nancy Pelosi
Senate Leaders

The Vice President

The Leader of the Senate according to the Constitution


However he has no power in the Senate other then to organize
Senate discussion and break ties
President Pro Tempore



Means “President for the Time Being”
Usually the Longest Serving member of the Majority Party
Duties Include:



Organizing Debates
Scheduling
Communicating with the President
Daniel Inouye
Senate Leaders Cont.
Floor Leaders

Majority and Minority Party Leaders


Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the
House of Reps
Party Whips and Deputy Whips

Fulfills many of the same roles as their counterparts in the
House of Reps
The Filibuster

A Product of the Unlimited Debate rule in the Senate

A Filibuster is when a Senator delays a vote by speaking
for hours on end

Filibusters can only be Broken by a 3/5 vote of the Senate
(60 members)