Congressional Organization Staff Agencies Compiled from information in

Congressional Organization, Staff & Agencies Compiled from information in Chapter 13, Theme D

Leaders in Congress n HOR Click here! n Senate – Speaker of House – Majority & Minority Leaders – Majority & Minority Whips – Policy/Steering Comm. n How Click here! – Pres. Of Senate – Pro Tempore – Majority & Minority Leaders – Majority & Minority Whips – Policy/Steering Comm. do they get their n How do they get their jobs? n Who are they? n What do they do?

Class simulation n Divide into political parties (R/D only please!) n Determine majority party. n Act out Senate. n Act out HOR.

Party Polarization n Are Republicans too conservative & Democrats too liberal? n What do you see as the root causes of this polarization? n What are the drawbacks of this polarization? n What are the benefits of this polarization?

Caucuses n Define the term. – Association that advocates for a certain goal. – 6 Types: § Intraparty, Personal Interest, Constituency: National, Constituency: Regional, Constituency: Demographic, Constituency: Economic n Why Form or Join a Caucus? – to build social ties – to coordinate and promote legislative agendas – to look good to individual or corporate constituents.

Caucuses n The Number of Caucuses has grown despite threats to end the practice in the HOR. n Let’s look at a few lists: – http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Caucuses_of_the_United_States_Co ngress – http: //www. huffingtonpost. com/2010/07/19/the-most-surprisingcongr_n_649168. html#s 115285&title=undefined n Form caucuses within the class to discuss writing bills for tomorrow.

Assignment: Due Tomorrow! n Read pp. 346 -350. n Take notes on committees, staff, and support agencies. n Finish your research phase.

Congressional Committees n Most of the work of Congress takes place in committees. n Real power in Congress lies with Committee Chairs. n Types of Committees: – Rules (HOR) – Standing (permanent) – Select (study issues & problems—temporary) – Joint (members of both houses—temporary) – Conference (Write a compromise bill)

Congressional Committees n 20 standing committees in the HOR – http: //www. house. gov/committees/ n 17 standing committees in Senate – http: //www. senate. gov/pagelayout/reference/e_one_section_no_teasers/org_chart. htm n Each party usually has proportional representation on every committee n Each lawmaker sits on at least 1 committee; most sit on 2, especially in the Senate. Most sit on 1 major and 1 minor committee.

Congressional Committees n Chairs are chosen by party caucus – Usually most senior—not always, though – Usually hire staff, set the agenda, recognize members to speak. n Reasons to be appointed to the right committee: – Become policy specialists in particular areas – Helps members get re-elected – Gives lawmaker power over others – Provides free press/exposure to constituents

Congressional Staff Committee Staff • Explain the following charts and the jobs of each of the types of staff. Personal Staff Assigned to staff a committee Legislative Assistant (LA) Work for a member of Congress Caseworkers Administrative Assistant (AA)

Congressional Support Agencies n Take notes on each agency: – Library of Congress & CRC http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=yl. Fl. AQZ 0 pi. U – Congressional Budget Office http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=LF 0 m. APm. H 9 p. E – General Accounting Office http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x 6 DOljeu. Bho – Government Printing Office http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xk. YVRVmb. IAk