R Committee Sy= stem
Tue= sday, March 10, 2009
11:= 48 AM
Standing Commi= ttee
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 committ= ees
Temporary
About a specific issue
Joint Committe= es
House and Senate
More permanent that select committees
Usually something routine like supervising Library of Congress
Conference Com= mittee
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 ca= n only be a chair for 6 years
House
All committees with >20 members need at least 4 subcommittees
Are public unl= ess members vote to close them
Each committee= has its own staff
Takes orders from committee chairs
Senate
Committees have larger staffs
Members know e= ach 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 c= an become laws
Bills can star= t 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 Committe= e
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 quick= ly
But normally w= orks 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
R Committee Sy= stem
Tue= sday, March 10, 2009
11:= 48 AM
Standing Commi= ttee
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 committ= ees
Temporary
About a specific issue
Joint Committe= es
House and Senate
More permanent that select committees
Usually something routine like supervising Library of Congress
Conference Com= mittee
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 ca= n only be a chair for 6 years
House
All committees with >20 members need at least 4 subcommittees
Are public unl= ess members vote to close them
Each committee= has its own staff
Takes orders from committee chairs
Senate
Committees have larger staffs
Members know e= ach 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 c= an become laws
Bills can star= t 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 Committe= e
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 quick= ly
But normally w= orks 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