STRUCTURE OF CONGRESS
Focus Questions

House and Senate: Some Important Differences: Using your textbook, a copy of the Constitution, and any relevant Web sites, answer the following questions about Congress and the legislative process.

1. What does the Constitution say about the types of legislation that should originate in each chamber? How are these differences reflected in the committee make-up of each house?

2. The process a bill goes through from introduction to passage is largely the same in the two chambers but there are some important differences. What are they? For example, what is the role and function of the House Rules Committee?

3. Members of Congress are busy! They belong to a number of committees, subcommittees, caucuses, and other groups. Using relevant Web sites, research and identify which committees and other groups your senators and representative belong to.

4. Analysis: With so many bills introduced each year, what role do committees play? What do you think about the power committees and their chairs have over the futures of bills? What impact do other groups within Congress have on the legislative process?

5. Analysis: What can you conclude about the power and roles of Congressional leaders? How do they impact the legislative process? To what extent do they set the policy-making agenda. How do Senate and House leaders differ in how much power they have?

6. Define and explain the significance of the following terms related to the Senate filibuster.

filibuster -

double-tracking -

cloture -

supermajority -