The House Of Representatives
How is it structured?
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Representation by population
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Leadership structure
Representation in the house is based on population of each state
Representatives i n1800 - 106
1900 - 357
2012 - 435
Structure of the house
Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) - presides over the house and maintains order
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Controls the house agenda
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Leads a party caucus
Majority and minority floor lears
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Floor leader - speak as voice of their political party
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Help the party agree on policies
Whips - serves as assistans to floor leaders
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Organize votes of party members
Majority and minority whips (organizing the members at karf)
Members at large
Committees - investigate and prepare legislation
Standing commettees - are permanent and designated to work on specific areas
Specia land select commeettees - are formed temporarily to investigate an issue
Joint committeees - have members from both parties, have limited jurisdiction’
The majority party has a great deal of power over legislation
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Assigns the 20 committee chairs
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Assigns a majority of each committee’s members
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Influences what the committee considers and votes on
What is its function?
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Serving citizens
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Using exclusive powers
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Making laws
Duties of a representative
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Hire and manage a staff
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Serve on a committee
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Make laws
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Meet with constituents
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Respond to supporters’ concerns
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Meeting supporters and acting on their suggestions
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Serving on congressional committees
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Managing employees who oversee scheduling
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Lawmaking - primary job of the house of representatives
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Passing revenue bill
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Impeaching a federal employee
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Electing a president in a deadlock (a tie)
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Bringing changes agaisnt officials to remove them from office
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Choosing president if the electoral college results a tie
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Creating bills that raise funds for government services
The House is responsible for
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Proposing
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Amending
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Voting on bills
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And resolutions
The house is the only legislative body that can propose revenue bills, taxing or raising money for
the governemtn
The house Process -
Bill introduction - committee hearings - debate - house vote - senate
approval - presidential action
A bill in the house
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Submission of a bill
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Hearings of a bill
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Bills are assigned to committees which examine the bills closely
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Floor debate
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Floor vote
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The house votes to approve or reject the bill
Representatives
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Represent your constituents (people the state you live in) in government
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Meet in the south wing of the capitol
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