R What Congress Does

Thursday,
March 12, 2009

6:53 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 bills
and resolutions proposed per session

5-9% pass

Most die in
committee

Some congratulate
certain people or name courthouses

Some resolve minor
issues - like certain monetary claims citizens have

Easier to kill a
bill than pass it

President initiates
about half of the bills that are passed

But
still needs a Congressman to introduce it

After introduced,
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 (bills
and treaties/nomination)

House Rules
Committee says how long a issue can be debated and if amendments may be added

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 Committee

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 people need
to know how to use the full range of procedures to get what they want

Congress very rarely
overrides vetos

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R What Congress Does

Thursday,
March 12, 2009

6:53 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 bills
and resolutions proposed per session

5-9% pass

Most die in
committee

Some congratulate
certain people or name courthouses

Some resolve minor
issues - like certain monetary claims citizens have

Easier to kill a
bill than pass it

President initiates
about half of the bills that are passed

But
still needs a Congressman to introduce it

After introduced,
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 (bills
and treaties/nomination)

House Rules
Committee says how long a issue can be debated and if amendments may be added

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 Committee

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 people need
to know how to use the full range of procedures to get what they want

Congress very rarely
overrides vetos