The House of Representatives divides its work among over twenty permanent committees. After a bill is introduced and referred to the committee of jurisdiction, the committee will often send the measure to its specialized subcommittee s for study, hearings, revisions, and approval. Usually, the first step in this process is a public hearing where the committee or subcommittee members hear witnesses representing various viewpoints on the measure.
At this point, amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee or subcommittee Members vote to accept or reject these changes. At the conclusion of deliberation, a vote of committee or subcommittee Members is taken to determine what action to take on the measure. It can be reported, with or without amendment, or tabled, which means no further action on it will occur.
If the committee has approved extensive amendments, they may decide to report a new bill incorporating all the amendments. A measure is ready for consideration by the full House after it has been reported by a committee. Committees conduct investigative hearings with public officials and private citizens, often concerning potential wrongdoing requiring a legislative response.
Congress also facilitates the impeachment process , whereby the House of Representatives votes to move forward with a trial of the impeached individual in the Senate, who then votes on whether or not the individual should be removed from office for the alleged reasons.
While members of Congress may seem distant from everyday life in their districts, they all have responsibilities to serve their constituents. To get more involved with members of Congress, attend their town hall meetings, view a Congressional session, attend a committee hearing, or schedule a meeting to discuss legislative issues that matter to you!
As the elected representatives for your district, your Senators and Congresspersons bring your community needs to the national stage so you should feel confident engaging with and advocating for a representative Legislative Branch. Nicole previously worked in Student Services at Seton Hall University where she advised student leaders on campus community development.
The Andrew Goodman Foundation uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be 25 years of age, a U. The House has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie.
The Senate is composed of Senators, 2 for each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in , Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senator's terms are staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. Senators must be 30 years of age, U. The Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate and may cast the decisive vote in the event of a tie in the Senate.
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties.
There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade. The Senate also tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.
In order to pass legislation and send it to the President for his signature, both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote. If the President vetoes a bill, they may override his veto by passing the bill again in each chamber with at least two-thirds of each body voting in favor. The first step in the legislative process is the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write it, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation.
Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. During the legislative process, however, the initial bill can undergo drastic changes.
After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with subcommittees.
The committees are not set in stone, but change in number and form with each new Congress as required for the efficient consideration of legislation.
Photo: Google. Blog - Latest News. How to Influence Congress Effectively Learn the Best Way to Communicate Reach out to staffers or to a member of Congress to find out the best way to communicate with them. Different congressional offices weigh messages differently. Send Effective Messages When reaching out to a member of Congress, make sure to identify yourself, state the issue you are advocating and explain how it relates to the community.
The Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University polled 3, congressional staffers about which activities have the biggest influence on members of Congress.
0コメント