Leadership Organization of Congress 2015

Leadership Organization of Congress

United States Congress

Senate

House of Representatives

Facts about Congress

Speaker of the House

114th Congress of the United States (2015-2016)

President Pro Tempore

Vice President

Orrin Hatch

Republican

Joe Biden

Democrat

Paul Ryan

Republican

Constitutional Role of the Vice President in Congress

Role of President Pro Tempore

Process for gaining the position

Constitutional powers given to the President Pro Tempore

How position is gained

Article 1 Section 3 Clause 5

• Is 3rd in the line of succession after the VP and Speaker of the House
• Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President

• Selected by the presidential candidate to be his or her running mate
• Elected with the President

• Presides over the Senate
• Votes in the senate when needed to break a tie

• Elected by the Senate
• Often the most senior member of the majority party
• Serves until retirement, death, or until their party loses the majority

The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.- Article 1 Section 3 Clause 4

Constitutional Powers

Role of the Speaker of the House

Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5

How do they gain the position?

Elected by the whole of the House of Representatives

"The House of Representatives shall choose their speakers and other officers"

• Member of Congress
• Administrative head of The House
• Presiding officer of The House
• Leader of the majority party
• Becomes President if the elected President and the Vice President are unable to for fill their duties

House of Representatives:

• Membership

435 Members

5 Delegates (non-voting)

• Party Divisions

246 Republicans

188 Democrats

0 Independents

1 Vacancies

Senate:

• Membership

100 Senators

(Vice President votes in case of a tie)

• Party Divisions

54 Republicans

44 Democrats

2 Independents

http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Majority Leader

Minority Leader

Non-Voting Members

Mitch McConnell

Republican

Harry Reid

Democrat

Kevin McCarthy

Republican

Nancy Pelosi

Democrat

Role of the Minority Leader

Constitutional Powers of the Minority Leader

Constitutional Powers Given to Majority Leaders

Roles of the Majority Leader

Process for gaining the position

Roles of the Majority Leader

Process for Gaining Position

Constitutional Powers given to the Majority Leader

Process for gaining the position

Process for gaining

the position

Role of the Minority Leader

Constitutional Powers given to the Minority Leader

Not included in the Constitution

Not included in Constitution

• Floor leader of the "loyal opposition"
• Plans for legislation the minority party wants suggest
• Protects the minority party's rights

Elected every two years

by secret balloting

at party caucus or convention

• Not recognized in Constitution

Elected every two years by secret ballot

at party caucus or convention

• Schedule legislation for floor consideration
• Planning the daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas
• Consulting with Members to gauge party sentiment
• Advance the goals of the Majority Party

Elected by Party Conference

There are non-voting members who are elected from a U.S. territory or from Washington, D.C., to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting member may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member.

Elected at the beginning of each congress by their party conference

• Not included in the constitution

• Spokesperson for party's position on issues
• Speaks for the Senate as institution
• Works with committee chairs and ranking members on scheduling bills
• Keeps his party informed on the daily legislation

• Works with Minority Leader to set debate limits.
• If they can't agree, the leader can file for cloture (shut down the debate)
• Sits in the front desks on floor
• Keeps party unified in voting
• Keeps legislation moving
• First recognition

• Evolved out of necessity

• Spokesperson for their party
• Consults with Majority Leader on debate limits
• Tries to keep party united and updates members on the day's legislation
• Sits in desk near floor
• Helps open days proceedings
• Keep legislation moving
• Second in recognition

Non-voting members serve exclusively in the House of Representatives—the Senate does not include any counterpart official from U.S. areas that do not possess state status. All delegates serve a term of two years.

Majority Whip

Minority Whip

John Cornyn

Republican

Steve Scalise

Republican

Areas with non-voting members:

Steny Hoyer

Democrat

Dick Durbin

Democrat

Role of the Majority Whip

Constitutional Powers

Process For Gaining Position

• Not included in constitution

Elected by majority party in a closed door caucus

Roles of the Leaders

Process for gaining the Position

• Evolved due to necessity

Constitutional Powers Given to Majority Whip

• Assist the party leadership with managing the party's legislative programs
• Ensure that the reps of their party are present for important votes
• Keep track of the number of votes for and against a piece of legislation
• Responsible, along with the party's leader, for "whipping up" support for a particular position

• Gather votes on major issues

• If the floor reader is absent, then the whip becomes acting floor leader

Process for Gaining the Position

Constitutional Powers

Role of the Minority Whip

Roles of the Leaders

• Not listed in the Constitution

Process for gaining the position

Constitutional Powers Given to the Minority Whips

Members of the majority party elect a whip at the commencement of each Congress

• Act as a liaison between members and leadership

• Gather votes on major issues

Elected by the Minority party

Not included in Constitution

• Not listed in the Constitution

• Coordinate strategy within the party

• If the floor leader is absent, then the Whip will act as floor leader

Members of the minority party elect a whip at the commencement of each Congress

• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands

• Whip up party support and keep a vote count

• Manages party legislation on the House floor
• Ensure that the reps of their party are present for important votes
• Keep track of the number of votes for and against a piece of legislation
• "Whip up" support for a particular position

• Act as a liaison between members and leadership

• Coordinate strategy within the party