R Committee System

Tuesday,
March 10, 2009

11:48 AM

Standing Committee

Senate
has 17; members can be members of 2 or more

House
has 19; members can a member of one

Many
are divided into many subcommittees

Only
ones that can propose bills

Select committees

Temporary

About
a specific issue

Joint Committees

House
and Senate

More
permanent that select committees

Usually
something routine like supervising Library of Congress

Conference Committee

When
Senate and House pass different language in their bills

Then
goes to House and Senate to be passed

Then
to President to sign

After 1970s

Committee
chair selected by secret ballot in party caucus

Republicans can only
be a chair for 6 years

House

All
committees with >20 members need at least 4 subcommittees

Are public unless
members vote to close them

Each committee has
its own staff

Takes
orders from committee chairs

Senate

Committees
have larger staffs

Members know each
other much better

More back and forth

More congenial

Less
backstabbing

House

22
to 19 committees

115
to 84 subcommittees

Senate

17
committees

80
to 60 subcommittees

10% of bills can
become laws

Bills can start in
House or Senate; excpet $$ bills can only start in the house

Number

Referred
to by ##

Hearings

People
involved come in to testify

Members
come in and out

Background
for a member written by their staff

Rules Committee

In
House

To
create rules to debate that bill on the floor

Can
you add amendments?

How
long does each member get?

Very
important job

Floor

House

Restricted
debate

Amendments
if allowed

Can
exchange time

Senate

No
rules committee

Bills
go straight to senate floor

No
time limits

Most bills don't get
passed

Since
not voted out of committee

If
majority does not like it (and # assigned by what party is in power)

Can work quickly

But normally works
slowly

Filibuster

Senate

Lengthy
speech to delay vote on the bill

Cloture

Vote
to end filibuster

60
votes needed

Senate
Rule 22

Christmas Tree Bill

House

Amendments
must relate to issue

Senate

No
such restrictions

Can
add amendments on anything

Gives
gifts to everyone

Rider - added amendment that has nothing to do
with original bill

Rides
on importance of original bill

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R Committee System

Tuesday,
March 10, 2009

11:48 AM

Standing Committee

Senate
has 17; members can be members of 2 or more

House
has 19; members can a member of one

Many
are divided into many subcommittees

Only
ones that can propose bills

Select committees

Temporary

About
a specific issue

Joint Committees

House
and Senate

More
permanent that select committees

Usually
something routine like supervising Library of Congress

Conference Committee

When
Senate and House pass different language in their bills

Then
goes to House and Senate to be passed

Then
to President to sign

After 1970s

Committee
chair selected by secret ballot in party caucus

Republicans can only
be a chair for 6 years

House

All
committees with >20 members need at least 4 subcommittees

Are public unless
members vote to close them

Each committee has
its own staff

Takes
orders from committee chairs

Senate

Committees
have larger staffs

Members know each
other much better

More back and forth

More congenial

Less
backstabbing

House

22
to 19 committees

115
to 84 subcommittees

Senate

17
committees

80
to 60 subcommittees

10% of bills can
become laws

Bills can start in
House or Senate; excpet $$ bills can only start in the house

Number

Referred
to by ##

Hearings

People
involved come in to testify

Members
come in and out

Background
for a member written by their staff

Rules Committee

In
House

To
create rules to debate that bill on the floor

Can
you add amendments?

How
long does each member get?

Very
important job

Floor

House

Restricted
debate

Amendments
if allowed

Can
exchange time

Senate

No
rules committee

Bills
go straight to senate floor

No
time limits

Most bills don't get
passed

Since
not voted out of committee

If
majority does not like it (and # assigned by what party is in power)

Can work quickly

But normally works
slowly

Filibuster

Senate

Lengthy
speech to delay vote on the bill

Cloture

Vote
to end filibuster

60
votes needed

Senate
Rule 22

Christmas Tree Bill

House

Amendments
must relate to issue

Senate

No
such restrictions

Can
add amendments on anything

Gives
gifts to everyone

Rider - added amendment that has nothing to do
with original bill

Rides
on importance of original bill