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Demographic Profile of the 111th Congress
Age Age GroupsGroups
Source: Source: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demographics.tthttp://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demographics.tt
PartyParty
GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity
House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences HouseHouse
435 members; 2 yr 435 members; 2 yr termsterms
Low turnoverLow turnover Speaker bill referral Speaker bill referral
hard to challengehard to challenge Scheduling/rules Scheduling/rules
controlled by majority controlled by majority party with powerful party with powerful Rules Committee Rules Committee ((controls time of debate, controls time of debate, amends., etc)amends., etc)
SenateSenate 100 members; 6 yr 100 members; 6 yr
termsterms Moderate turnoverModerate turnover Referral decisions Referral decisions
easily challengedeasily challenged Scheduling/rules Scheduling/rules
agreed to by majority & agreed to by majority & minority leadersminority leaders
House-Senate DifferencesHouse-Senate Differences
HouseHouse Debate limited to 1 Debate limited to 1
hourhour Members policy Members policy
specialistsspecialists Emphasizes tax & Emphasizes tax &
revenue policyrevenue policy More formal & More formal &
impersonalimpersonal
SenateSenate Unlimited debate Unlimited debate
unless cloture unless cloture invokedinvoked
Members policy Members policy generalistsgeneralists
Emphasizes foreign Emphasizes foreign policypolicy
More informal & More informal & personalpersonal
Party LeadershipParty LeadershipParty LeadershipParty Leadership
Bicameral Democratic Bicameral Democratic LeadershipLeadership
110th Congress110th Congress
Senate Republican Senate Republican LeadershipLeadership
110th Congress110th Congress
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSESPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
• Chosen by majority party• Chief presiding officer (constitutionally) of the House
• Decides whom to recognize to speak on the floor
• Rules on germaneness of motions• Decides to which committee bills go• Schedules bills for action• Appoints members of special and select committees
• Has some patronage power
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADERHOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
• Chosen by majority party• Assists Speaker• Plans party’s legislative program
• Steers important bills through the House
• Party leader
HOUSE MAJORITY WHIPHOUSE MAJORITY WHIP
• Party floor leader• Keeps close watch on how majority members intend to vote
• Attempts to influence voting
HOUSE MINORITY LEADERHOUSE MINORITY LEADER
• Party leader• Performs similar tasks to House Majority Leader
• Has no power over scheduling work in the House
HOUSE MINORITY WHIPHOUSE MINORITY WHIP
• Assists party minority leader• Keeps close watch on how minority members intend to vote
• Attempts to influence voting
President of the SenatePresident of the Senate
• Vice-President of the United States
• Elected in general presidential election
• Chief presiding officer (constitutionally) of the Senate
• Cannot participate in floor debate
• Casts vote only in case of tie
President Pro-TemporePresident Pro-Tempore
• Chosen by majority party; often most senior member
• Presides over Senate in absence of vice-president
Senate Majority LeaderSenate Majority Leader
• Chosen by majority party• Majority. party leader in Senate• Steers party’s bills through Senate
• Plans Senate’s work schedule in consultation with Minority Leader
• Makes sure majority members attend important sessions
Senate Majority WhipSenate Majority Whip
• Chosen by majority party• Assists Majority Leader• Rounds up members for key votes
• Heads group of deputy whips
Senate Minority LeaderSenate Minority Leader
• Chosen by minority party• Minority party leader in Senate• Develops criticisms of bills from majority party
• Consults with Majority Leader re: Senate’s work schedule
• Tries to keep members working together
Senate Minority WhipSenate Minority Whip
• • Chosen by minority party• Assists Minority Leader• Rounds up members for key votes
• Heads group of deputy whips
HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP
Speaker (majority party)
Republicans:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Republican
Conference• Republican Policy
Committee• Republican
Congressional Campaign Committee
Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (R-OH)
Majority LeaderEric Cantor (R-VA)
Majority WhipKevin McCarthy (R-CA)
HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP
Democrats:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Democratic Caucus• Democratic
Congressional Committee
Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D-MD)
SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIP
President of the Senate (Vice President)
President Pro Tempore (majority party)
Democrats:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Chairman of Conference• Policy Committee• Steering Committee• Democratic Senatorial
Campaign CommitteeMajority LeaderHarry Reid (D-NV)
President Pro TemRobert Byrd (D-WV)
Majority WhipRichard Durbin
(D-IL)
President of the Senate
Joe Biden (D-DE)
SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE LEADERSHIP
Republicans:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of
Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on
Committees• Republican Senatorial
Committee
Minority LeaderMitch McConnell
(R-KY)
Minority WhipJohn Cornyn (R-
TX)
Strength of Party Structure?Strength of Party Structure?
• Measure of party strength: 1.Ability of leaders to
control party rules and organization
2.Extent to which party members vote together in the House and Senate
• Senate: less party-centered and leader oriented
Party UnityParty UnityParty UnityParty Unity
• Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..
• Ideology important variable explaining party Ideology important variable explaining party voting (members vote with their party 80% of voting (members vote with their party 80% of the time)the time)
• Party polarizationParty polarization - vote in which majority of - vote in which majority of democrats oppose majority of republicansdemocrats oppose majority of republicans
• Polarization trends:Polarization trends:o 1976 HR = 36%; S = 37%1976 HR = 36%; S = 37%o 1995 HR = 73%; S = 69%1995 HR = 73%; S = 69%o 2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%
CAUCUSESCAUCUSES
• Groups (may be bipartisan) meeting to pursue common legislative objectives
• Rivals to parties in policy formulation• Examples: Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Out of Iraq Caucus,Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus, House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children
"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”
- Woodrow Wilson
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:
Function and PurposeFunction and Purpose
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
1. Consider bills (a.k.a. “mark-up” bills)
A bill with a member’s mark-up notes
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing re: the Department of Defense Budget (May, 2006)
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Legislative Committees:Function & PurposeFunction & Purpose
3. Conduct investigations
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hurricane Katrina (Feb., 2006
Types of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of CommitteesTypes of Committees
Standing Committees - permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities• Subcommittees – formed to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees
Select or Special Committees - groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration
Joint Committees - includes members of both chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks
Conference Committee - includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills
House Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing CommitteesHouse Standing Committees
AgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation & WorkforceEnergy & CommerceFinancial ServicesGovernment ReformHouse Admin.International Relations
JudiciaryResourcesRulesScienceSmall BusinessStandards of Official Conduct
Transportation & Infrastructure
Veterans AffairsWays & Means
Senate Standing CommitteesSenate Standing Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
AppropriationsArmed ServicesBanking, Housing, & Urban Affairs
BudgetCommerce, Science, Transportation
Energy & Natural Resources
Environment and Public Works
FinanceForeign RelationsGovernmental Affairs
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
JudiciaryRules and Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Veterans Affairs
Special, Select CommitteesSpecial, Select Committees
• House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
• Senate Select Committee on Ethics
• House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence
Gen. Michael Hayden is sworn in during a full committee hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Joint CommitteesJoint Committees
• Joint Economic Committee• Joint Committee on Printing• Joint Committee on Taxation
Joint Committee Joint Committee on Taxation on Taxation hearinghearing
Title: Resolution Artist: Bob GorrellDate: 12/28/06 Source: http://www.gorrellart.com/