POL 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: United States House Committee On Rules, Joint Committee, Cloture
Document Summary
Central role of party: parties frequently vote in unison in congress, majority party controls leadership structure, the speaker of the house is the most important leadership position (third in line to become president) Majority leaders are below the speaker of the house: leadership of the senate is not as powerful as congressional leadership. Select committees: appointed to deal with an issue or problem not suited to a standing committee. Conference committees: formed temporarily to reconcile difference in house and senate versions of a bill: may alter or rewrite legislation. Congressional resources (staff and bureaucracy) have grown. Getting to the floor: house has rules on debate from rules committee, senate can offer amendments of filibuster (stopped only by cloture) Final challenge: consideration by full house and/or senate. Roll call vote: if bill passes with a different language, it must go to conference committee. Congress can override the veto with 2/3 vote in each chamber.
