Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process.

By design, the different structures, powers, and functions of the Senate and the House of Representatives affect the policy-making process.

Though both chambers rely on committees to conduct hearings and debate bills under consideration, different constitutional responsibilities of the House and Senate affect the policy making process.

Chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact the policy-making process include:

-->Number of chamber and debate rules that set the bar high for building majority support

-->Roles of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, party leadership, and committee leadership in both chambers

-->Filibuster and cloture

--> Holds and unanimous consent in the Senate

-->Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the

Whole, and discharge petitions in the House

-->Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the U.S. Senate

Unicameral to Bicameral

Modeled after Britain

British Parliament

Two houses resist temptation of tyranny

Checks and Balances

Senate to check majoritarian whims

Representation equal and balanced

Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence the formality of debate.

Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences.

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes:

Passing a federal budget, raising revenue, and coining money

Declaring war and maintaining the armed forces

Enacting legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues based on the Necessary and Proper Clause

Senate relaxed rules

Meant for debate

Cloture rule-Rule 22–is the only formal procedure that Senate rules provide for breaking a filibuster.

Filibuster is an attempt to block or delay Senate action 

16 votes to open-->3/5 or 60 to close

Read attached article under modules: Invoking Cloture in the Senate

Leader President Pro Tempore

Speaker

Elected by the Party

Third parties never have enough

Voted on the first day, usually a formality

Administrative head

Voting on legislation

Maintaining order within the House chamber, appointing special committees, Oath of office to Members, Recognizing members to speak on the House floor

Appoints members and chairpersons of regular committees, special or select committees, conference committee

Speaker also determines which legislation is assigned to each committee

which legislation reaches the House floor for a vote

Determines the House legislative agenda