Members of Congress

Members of Congress Breaking it down!

Members of the House of Representatives Unit 6 Part 3

Members of the House of Representatives

Speaker of the House • The presiding officer of the House and most powerful leader • Chosen from the Majority party • Jobs: • Presides over the sessions of the House • Choose order in which Representatives speak • Appoints members of some committees • Schedules bills for action and proper House Committee

Majority Leader • Chosen from majority party (leader of majority party) this is the 2nd most powerful person in the house. • Jobs: • House floor leader for majority party • Help plan the party’s legislative program • Steer important bills through the house • Makes sure the chairpersons of many of the committees work on bills for their political party

Minority leader • The responsibilities of these leaders are much the same as those of the majority party except they have no power over scheduling work in the house.

Majority and Minority Whips • Serve as assistants to the floor leaders. • Jobs: • Persuade them to vote as the party wishes • See that the party members are present to vote.

Deputy Whips • Help Majority or Minority whips with party voting and attendance. Representative • Regular members of the House - read and pass legislation. • Serve on House committees.

Now… • Get out your handout for “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”

Senate Breaking it down!

Members of the Senate

Vice President • President of the Senate • Jobs: • Recognize members to speak on legislation and put questions to a vote • He / She is not an elected member of the senate and may not take part in senate debates • Cast votes in the event of a tie

President Pro Tempore • Latin meaning “for the time being” • The vice president is often called away to carry out his/ her other duties • In absence of the VP the Pro Tempore presides over the senate. • The senate elects the Pro Tempore from the Majority party

Majority Leader • Leader of majority party; this is the 3rd most powerful person in the Senate. • Jobs: • Senate floor leader • Help plan party’s legislative program • Steer important bills • Makes sure the chairpersons work on bills for their political party

Minority leader • Much the same as majority party leader except they have no power over scheduling work in the Senate.

Majority and Minority Whips • Serve as assistants to the floor leaders. • Jobs: • Persuade them to vote as the party wishes • See that the party members are present to vote.

Deputy Whips • Help Majority or Minority whips with party voting and attendance. Senators • Regular elected members of the Senate - read and pass legislation. • Serve on Senate committees.

Members of Congress