R What Congres= s Does
Thu= rsday, March 12, 2009
6:5= 3 PM
Most of the named/enumerated powers in the Constitution given to Congress
Can also make = all laws necessary and proper - implied powers
Lawmaking
6,000- 9,000 b= ills and resolutions proposed per session
5-9% pass
Most die in committee
Some congratul= ate certain people or name courthouses
Some resolve m= inor issues - like certain monetary claims citizens have
Easier to kill= a bill than pass it
President init= iates about half of the bills that are passed
But still needs a Congressman to introduce it
After introduc= ed, referred to committee
Speaker has some discretion as to which committee on complex bills
In committee lobbyists attend, fill the audience seating, and try to pressure members
When the house receives a bill it is placed on one of 4 calendars; Senate 2 calendars (bil= ls and treaties/nomination)
House Rules Committee says how long a issue can be debated and if amendments may be add= ed
Use to be independent and powerful
Used to block legislation
Now it is an arm of the leadership
Debate
Controlled by bill managers - senior members who passed the bill through committee
Not firry speeches
Mostly long, boring speeches with no one watching/really paying attention
Senate
Smaller so less rules
More work through private negotiations so that unanimous consent could be had for amendments
But this is decreasing as gov becomes less congenial
No rules limiting amendments or discussion, so senators can block bills easily=
Filibuster - endless talking about a bill= ; need a 60% cloture to stop debate
Used to gridlock to end slavery question
And to block civil rights legislation
Used much more now (or at least threat)
And they do contribute to gridlock
Conference Com= mittee
To reconcile House and Senate bills
Senate and House must both pass identical bills
Leadership and the sending bill's committee leadership choose which members to send
But leadership may privately negotiate a bill (also with president) and impose = it on the committee
But they usually have a wide latitude
Can add, subtract, or kill a bill
Then sent back to House and Senate where must pass or not
Very influential; yet out of the public view
Congressmen must know how to win a seat on a committee
No set rules on how they operate
Congress peopl= e need to know how to use the full range of procedures to get what they want
Congress very = rarely overrides vetos
R What Congres= s Does
Thu= rsday, March 12, 2009
6:5= 3 PM
Most of the named/enumerated powers in the Constitution given to Congress
Can also make = all laws necessary and proper - implied powers
Lawmaking
6,000- 9,000 b= ills and resolutions proposed per session
5-9% pass
Most die in committee
Some congratul= ate certain people or name courthouses
Some resolve m= inor issues - like certain monetary claims citizens have
Easier to kill= a bill than pass it
President init= iates about half of the bills that are passed
But still needs a Congressman to introduce it
After introduc= ed, referred to committee
Speaker has some discretion as to which committee on complex bills
In committee lobbyists attend, fill the audience seating, and try to pressure members
When the house receives a bill it is placed on one of 4 calendars; Senate 2 calendars (bil= ls and treaties/nomination)
House Rules Committee says how long a issue can be debated and if amendments may be add= ed
Use to be independent and powerful
Used to block legislation
Now it is an arm of the leadership
Debate
Controlled by bill managers - senior members who passed the bill through committee
Not firry speeches
Mostly long, boring speeches with no one watching/really paying attention
Senate
Smaller so less rules
More work through private negotiations so that unanimous consent could be had for amendments
But this is decreasing as gov becomes less congenial
No rules limiting amendments or discussion, so senators can block bills easily=
Filibuster - endless talking about a bill= ; need a 60% cloture to stop debate
Used to gridlock to end slavery question
And to block civil rights legislation
Used much more now (or at least threat)
And they do contribute to gridlock
Conference Com= mittee
To reconcile House and Senate bills
Senate and House must both pass identical bills
Leadership and the sending bill's committee leadership choose which members to send
But leadership may privately negotiate a bill (also with president) and impose = it on the committee
But they usually have a wide latitude
Can add, subtract, or kill a bill
Then sent back to House and Senate where must pass or not
Very influential; yet out of the public view
Congressmen must know how to win a seat on a committee
No set rules on how they operate
Congress peopl= e need to know how to use the full range of procedures to get what they want
Congress very = rarely overrides vetos