Asked by Joseph Wallace on Jun 09, 2024

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What is the organizational structure of Congress? What are some of the leadership positions in both houses,and what are their functions? What are some of the types of committees? Are there any important differences between the organizational structures of the House and Senate? If so,discuss them.

Organizational Structure

The way in which the activities of an organization are arranged and coordinated to achieve its objectives, often through the division of tasks, roles, and responsibilities.

Leadership Positions

Leadership positions are roles within an organization or institution tasked with making decisions, directing operations, and guiding teams or departments towards achieving objectives.

Committees

Committees are specialized groups within a larger organization, such as a legislature or a corporation, tasked with focusing on specific areas of interest or expertise to facilitate decision-making and oversight.

  • Comprehend the distinct functions and guidelines in Congress, including the Hastert Rule and the structural organization of Congress.
  • Explain the procedures and mechanisms involved in the process of turning a bill into a law, from its introduction to enactment.
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CM
Carnetta McCulloughJun 11, 2024
Final Answer :
There are three components to this question.
a.Leadership positions: There are four main leadership positions.The Speaker of the House is the chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives.The majority leader is the elected leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.The minority leader is the elected leader of the minority party in the House or Senate.The whip is a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy,building support for key issues,and counting votes.
b.Committee system: There are several different kinds of congressional committees: standing committees (permanent committees with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject),select committees (temporary legislative committees set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not within the jurisdiction of existing committees),joint committees (legislative committees formed of members of both the House and Senate),and conference committees (joint committees created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation).
c.Differences between the House and the Senate: The House is more centralized and organized than the Senate.For example,the House Rules Committee decides the order in which bills come up for a vote on the House floor and determines the specific rules that govern the length of debate and opportunity for amendments.The Senate,which has less formal organization and fewer rules,does not have a rules committee.In fact,through the use of the filibuster,small minorities or even one individual in the Senate can prevent the passage of a bill.Also,in the House but not the Senate,the majority leader is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the Speaker of the House.