Chapter 12

How are political parties included in Congress?

Congress is strongly partisan. It is organized along party lines with it's key positions and committees controlled by the majority party in each house.

Name the President Pro Tempore.

Daniel K. Inouye

Name the Majority Floor Leader in the House.

Eric Cantor

When does Congress begin new terms?

Every two years on January 3rd of odd years.

Name the Majority Floor Leader of the Senate.

Harry Reid

What is a party caucus?

It is a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house. The caucus discusses policy issues and selects the party's floor leader and committee chairs.

What is the "Seniority Rule"?

It is an unwritten custom granting the most important posts in Congress to party members with the longest service.

Name the President of the Senate.

Joe Biden

Name the Speaker of the House.

John Boehner

Name the Minority Whip in the Senate.

Jon Kyl

Name the Majority Whip in the House.

Kevin McCarthy

Name the Minority Floor Leader in the Senate.

Mitch McConnell

Name the Minority Floor Leader in the House.

Nancy Pelosi

Name the Majority Whip in the Senate.

Richard Durbin

Describe the opening day of the Senate.

Since only a third of the Senate is elected every two years, newly elected members are simply sworn in and vacancies for officers and committees are filled.

Name the Minority Whip in the House.

Steny Hoyer

What role does the President of the Senate play? Who does the Constitution declare this officer?

The Constitution declares the Vice President as the President of the Senate. He/she can recognize members, put questions to a vote, etc but cannot take part in debates and votes only to break a tie. The President pro tempore is a member of the Senate's majority party and serves as the Senate leader when the Vice President is not available.

What role does the Speaker of the House play?

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House and the leader of its majority party. He/she keeps order and chairs most sessions. No member can speak without being recognized by the Speaker. He/she interprets and applies rules and procedures, refers bills to committees and puts motions to a vote. He/she also names the members of all select and conference committees.

How do constitutional and party officers keep Congress organized?

The Speaker of the House and the presiding officer of the Senate settle rules, issues and directs the flow of floor debate. The majority and minority leaders and whips organize party policy and voting on issues. The committee chairs guide the passage of bills through each house.

Describe the opening day of the House of Representatives.

The members elect a Speaker who takes the oath and swears in other members. Members then elect various officers. They then adopt rules for the current term (which are occasionally amended or expanded). They appoint members of the 20 committees.

What is the purpose of the State of the Union Address?

The president delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress a few weeks after it is organized. In addition to describing the general state of national affairs, the President describes the planned policies of his/her administration to Congress and the nation, requesting that Congress pass specific pieces of legislation.

What is a floor leader?

They are party officers in the House and Senate.

party caucus

a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house

joint committee

a committee made up of both houses

select committee

a temporary committee set up for a special purpose

conference committee

a temporary joint committee created to settle differences

whip

assistant floor leaders

subcommittee

divisions of standing committees that do most of the committee's work

standing committee

permanent panels in each house of Congress

President of the Senate

the Senate's presiding officer (Joe Biden)

President Pro Tempore

the elected Senate officer who presides in the Vice President's absence (Daniel K).

Speaker of the House

the elected presiding officer of the House and the leader of its majority party (John Boehner)

majority leader

the floor leader of the majority party in either house

minority leader

the floor leader of the minority party in either house

committee chairmen

the heads of the standing committees in Congress

seniority rule

the unwritten custom that the party members with the longest records of service should hold the most important posts in Congress

floor leaders

unofficial party officers who serve in each house