[United States Government Manual]
[May 30, 1997]
[Pages 25-32]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESS

One Hundred and Fifth Congress, First Session

The Senate

The Capitol, Washington, DC 20510
Phone, 202-224-3121

President of the Senate (Vice President of the    Al Gore
        United States)
President pro tempore                             Strom Thurmond
Majority Leader                                   Trent Lott
Minority Leader                                   Thomas A. Daschle
    Secretary of the Senate                       Gary Sisco
    Sergeant at Arms                              Gregory S. Casey
    Secretary for the Majority                    Elizabeth B. Greene
    Secretary for the Minority                    Martin P. Paone
    Chaplain                                      Lloyd J. Ogilvie

The House of Representatives

The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515

Phone, 202-225-3121
The Speaker                                       Newt Gingrich
    Clerk                                         Robin H. Carle
    Sergeant at Arms                              Wilson L. Livingood
    Chief Administrative Officer                  Jeff Trandahl, Acting
    Chaplain                                      Rev. James David Ford

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Congress of the United States was created by Article I, section 1, 
of the Constitution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention on 
September 17, 1787, providing that ``All legislative Powers herein 
granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall 
consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.''
    The first Congress under the Constitution met on March 4, 1789, in 
the Federal Hall in New York City. The membership then consisted of 20 
\1\ Senators and 59 Representatives.
    \1\New York ratified the Constitution on July 26, 1788, but did not 
elect its Senators until July 15 and 16, 1789. North Carolina did not 
ratify the Constitution until November 21, 1789; Rhode Island ratified 
it on May 29, 1790.


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    The Senate is composed of 100 Members, 2 from each State, who are 
elected to serve for a term of 6 years. Senators were originally chosen 
by the State legislatures. This procedure was changed by the 17th 
amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1913, which made the election 
of Senators a function of the people. There are three classes of 
Senators, and a new class is elected every 2 years.
    The House of Representatives comprises 435 Representatives. The 
number representing each State is determined by population, but every 
State is entitled to at least one Representative. Members are elected by 
the people for 2-year terms, all terms running for the same period.
    Both the Senators and the Representatives must be residents of the 
State from which they are chosen. In addition, a Senator must be at 
least 30 years of age and must have been a citizen of the United States 
for at least 9 years; a Representative must be at least 25 years of age 
and must have been a citizen for at least 7 years.
    A Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico (elected for a 4-year term) 
and Delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 
the Virgin Islands complete the composition of the Congress of the 
United States. Delegates are elected for a term of 2 years. The Resident 
Commissioner and Delegates may take part in the floor discussions but 
have no vote in the full House or in the Committee of the Whole House on 
the State of the Union. They do, however, vote in the committees to 
which they are assigned.

Officers  The Vice President of the United States is the Presiding 
Officer of the Senate; in his absence the duties are taken over by a 
President pro tempore, elected by that body, or someone designated by 
him. The Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, 
is elected by the House; he may designate any Member of the House to act 
in his absence.
    The positions of Senate majority and minority leader have been in 
existence only since the early years of the 20th century. Leaders are 
elected at the beginning of each new Congress by a majority vote of the 
Senators in their political party. In cooperation with their party 
organizations, leaders are responsible for the design and achievement of 
a legislative program. This involves managing the flow of legislation, 
expediting noncontroversial measures, and keeping Members informed 
regarding proposed action on pending business. Each leader serves as an 
ex officio member of his party's policymaking and organizational bodies 
and is aided by an assistant floor leader (whip) and a party secretary.
    The House leadership is structured essentially the same as the 
Senate, with the Members in the political parties responsible for the 
election of their respective leader and whips.
    The Secretary of the Senate, elected by vote of the Senate, performs 
the duties of the Presiding Officer of the Senate in the absence of the 
Vice President and pending the election of a President pro tempore. The 
Secretary is the custodian of the seal of the Senate, draws requisitions 
on the Secretary of the Treasury for moneys appropriated for the 
compensation of Senators, officers, and employees, and for the 
contingent expenses of the Senate, and is empowered to administer oaths 
to any officer of the Senate and to any witness produced before it. The 
Secretary's executive duties include certification of extracts from the 
Journal of the Senate; the attestation of bills and joint, concurrent, 
and Senate resolutions; in impeachment trials, issuance, under the 
authority of the Presiding Officer, of all orders, mandates, writs, and 
precepts authorized by the Senate; and certification to the President of 
the United States of the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification of treaties and the names of persons confirmed or rejected 
upon the nomination of the President.
    The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate is elected by and serves as the 
Executive Officer of that body. He directs and supervises the various 
departments and facilities under his jurisdiction. He is

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also the Law Enforcement and Protocol Officer. As Law Enforcement 
Officer, he has statutory power to make arrests; to locate absentee 
Senators for a quorum; to enforce Senate rules and regulations as they 
pertain to the Senate Chamber, the Senate wing of the Capitol, and the 
Senate Office Buildings. He serves as a member of the Capitol Police 
Board and as its chairman each odd year; and, subject to the Presiding 
Officer, maintains order in the Senate Chamber. As Protocol Officer, he 
is responsible for many aspects of ceremonial functions, including the 
inauguration of the President of the United States; arranging funerals 
of Senators who die in office; escorting the President when he addresses 
a Joint Session of Congress or attends any function in the Senate; and 
escorting heads of state when they visit the Senate.
    The elected officers of the House of Representatives include the 
Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms, the Doorkeeper, and the Chaplain.
    The Clerk is custodian of the seal of the House and administers the 
primary legislative activities of the House. These duties include: 
accepting the credentials of the Members-elect and calling the Members 
to order at the commencement of the first session of each Congress; 
keeping the Journal; taking all votes and certifying the passage of 
bills; and processing all legislation. Through various departments, the 
Clerk is also responsible for floor and committee reporting services; 
legislative information and reference services; the administration of 
House reports pursuant to certain legislation including the Ethics in 
Government Act, the Federal Election Campaign Act, and the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995; the distribution of House documents and 
supervision of the operations of the House Document Room; and 
administration of the House Page Program. The Clerk is also charged with 
supervision of the offices vacated by Members due to death, resignation, 
or expulsion.
    The Sergeant at Arms maintains the order of the House under the 
direction of the Speaker and is the keeper of the Mace. As a member of 
the U.S. Capitol Police Board, the Sergeant at Arms is the chief law 
enforcement officer for the House and serves as Board Chairman each even 
year. The ceremonial and protocol duties parallel those of the Senate 
Sergeant at Arms and include arranging the inauguration of the President 
of the United States, Joint Sessions of Congress, visits to the House of 
heads of state, and funerals of Members of Congress.
    The Sergeant at Arms enforces the rules relating to the privileges 
of the Hall of the House, including admission to the galleries.
    The Chief Administrative Officer is charged with the administration 
of other House support services, including: payroll, benefits, postal 
operations and internal mail distribution, office furnishings, office 
equipment, office supplies, and the administration of the House 
televised floor proceedings.

Committees  The work of preparing and considering legislation is done 
largely by committees of both Houses of Congress. There are 16 standing 
committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives. The 
standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives are 
shown in the list below. In addition, there are select committees in 
each House (one in the House of Representatives for the One Hundred and 
Fourth Congress), and various congressional commissions and joint 
committees composed of Members of both Houses. Each House may also 
appoint special investigating committees.
    The membership of the standing committees of each House is chosen by 
a vote of the entire body; members of other committees are appointed 
under the provisions of the measure establishing them.
    Each bill and resolution is usually referred to the appropriate 
committee, which may report a bill out in its original form, favorably 
or unfavorably, recommend amendments, or allow the proposed legislation 
to die in committee without action.


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                   Standing Committees of the Congress                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        House Committee         Room \1\    Senate Committee    Room \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
____Agriculture...............      1301  Agriculture,           SR-328A
                                           Nutrition, and               
                                           Forestry.                    
____Appropriations............      H218  Appropriations.....      S-128
____Banking and Financial           2129  Armed Services.....     SR-228
 Services.                                                              
____Budget....................       309  Banking, Housing,       SD-534
                                           and Urban Affairs.           
____Commerce..................      2125  Budget.............     SD-621
____Education and the               2181  Commerce, Science,      SD-508
 Workforce.                                and Transportation.          
____Government Reform and           2157  Energy and Natural      SD-364
 Oversight.                                Resources.                   
____House Oversight...........      1309  Environment and         SD-410
                                           Public Works.                
  Commission on Congressional                                           
   Mailing Standards:                                                   
    Majority..................       140                                
    Minority..................      1339                                
____International Relations...      2170  Finance............     SD-219
____Judiciary.................      2138  Foreign Relations..     SD-450
  Publications................       B29                                
____National Security.........      2120  Governmental            SD-340
                                           Affairs.                     
____Resources.................      1324  Judiciary..........     SD-224
____Rules.....................      H312  Labor and Human         SD-428
                                           Resources.                   
  Minority....................       234                                
____Science...................      2320  Rules and               SR-305
                                           Administration.              
____Small Business............      2361  Small Business.....    SR-428A
____Standards of Official            HT2  Veterans' Affairs..     SR-412
 Conduct.                                                               
  Office of Advice and               HT2                                
   Education.                                                           
____Transportation and              2165                                
 Infrastructure.                                                        
____Veterans' Affairs.........       335                                
____Ways and Means............      1102                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Room numbers with three digits are in the Cannon House Office       
  Building, four digits beginning with 1 are in the Longworth House     
  Office Building, and four digits beginning with 2 are in the Rayburn  
  House Office Building. Room numbers preceded by H or HT are in the    
  House Capitol Building.                                               
\2\ Room numbers preceded by S are in the main Capitol building; those  
  preceded by SD are in the Dirksen Office Building; and those preceded 
  by SR are in the Russell Office Building.                             

Congressional Record  Proceedings of Congress are published in the 
Congressional Record, which is issued when Congress is in session. 
Publication of the Record began March 4, 1873; it was the first record 
of debate officially reported, printed, and published directly by the 
Federal Government. The Daily Digest of the Congressional Record, 
printed in the back of each issue of the Record, summarizes the 
proceedings of that day in each House, and before each of their 
committees and subcommittees, respectively. The Digest also presents the 
legislative program for each day and, at the end of the week, gives the 
program for the following week. Its publication was begun March 17, 
1947.

Sessions  Section 4 of Article I of the Constitution makes it mandatory 
that ``The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year. . . .'' 
Under this provision, also, the date for convening Congress was 
designated originally as the first Monday in December, ``unless they 
shall by Law appoint a different Day.'' Eighteen acts were passed, up to 
1820, providing for the meeting of Congress on other days of the year. 
From 1820 to 1934, however, Congress met regularly on the first Monday 
in December. In 1934 the Twentieth Amendment changed the convening of 
Congress to January 3, unless Congress ``shall by law appoint a 
different day.'' In addition, the President, according to Article II, 
section 3, of the Constitution ``may, on extraordinary Occasions, 
convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement 
between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn 
them to such Time as he shall think proper. . . .''

Powers of Congress  Article I, section 8, of the Constitution defines 
the powers of Congress. Included are the powers to assess and collect 
taxes--called the chief power; to regulate commerce, both interstate and 
foreign; to coin money; to establish post offices and post roads; to 
establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court; to declare war; and to 
raise and maintain an army and navy. Congress is further empowered ``To 
provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, 
suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;'' and

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``To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into 
Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this 
Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any 
Department or Officer thereof.''

Amendments to the Constitution  Another power vested in the Congress is 
the right to propose amendments to the Constitution, whenever two-thirds 
of both Houses shall deem it necessary. Should two-thirds of the State 
legislatures demand changes in the Constitution, it is the duty of 
Congress to call a constitutional convention. Proposed amendments shall 
be valid as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures 
or by conventions of three-fourths of the States, as one or the other 
mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress.

Special Powers of the Senate  Under the Constitution, the Senate is 
granted certain powers not accorded to the House of Representatives. The 
Senate approves or disapproves certain Presidential appointments by 
majority vote, and treaties must be concurred in by a two-thirds vote.

Special Powers of the House of Representatives  The House of 
Representatives is granted the power of originating all bills for the 
raising of revenue.
    Both Houses of Congress act in impeachment proceedings, which, 
according to the Constitution, may be instituted against the President, 
Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States. The House 
of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment, and the Senate has 
the sole power to try impeachments.

Prohibitions Upon Congress  Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution 
also imposes prohibitions upon Congress. ``The Privilege of the Writ of 
Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion 
or Invasion the public Safety may require it.'' A bill of attainder or 
an ex post facto law cannot be passed. No export duty can be imposed. 
Ports of one State cannot be given preference over those of another 
State. ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence 
of Appropriations made by Law. . . .'' No title of nobility may be 
granted.

Rights of Members  According to section 6 of Article I, Members of 
Congress are granted certain privileges. In no case, except in treason, 
felony, and breach of the peace, can Members be arrested while attending 
sessions of Congress ``and in going to and returning from the same. . . 
.'' Furthermore, the Members cannot be questioned in any other place for 
remarks made in Congress. Each House may expel a Member of its body by a 
two-thirds vote.

Enactment of Laws  All bills and joint resolutions must pass both the 
House of Representatives and the Senate and must be signed by the 
President, except those proposing a constitutional amendment, in order 
to become law, or be passed over the President's veto by a two-thirds 
vote of both Houses of Congress. Section 7 of Article I states: ``If any 
Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays 
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a 
Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their 
Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.''
    When a bill or joint resolution is introduced in the House, the 
usual procedure for its enactment into law is as follows:
    --assignment to House committee having jurisdiction;
    --if favorably considered, it is reported to the House either in its 
original form or with recommended amendments;
    --if the bill or resolution is passed by the House, it is messaged 
to the Senate and referred to the committee having jurisdiction;
    --in the Senate committee the bill, if favorably considered, may be 
reported in the form as received from the House, or with recommended 
amendments;
    --the approved bill or resolution is reported to the Senate, and if 
passed by that body, is returned to the House;
    --if one body does not accept the amendments to a bill by the other 
body, a conference committee comprised of

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Members of both bodies is usually appointed to effect a compromise;
    --when the bill or joint resolution is finally approved by both 
Houses, it is signed by the Speaker (or Speaker pro tempore) and the 
Vice President (or President pro tempore or acting President pro 
tempore) and is presented to the President; and
    --once the President's signature is affixed, the measure becomes a 
law. If the President vetoes the bill, it cannot become a law unless it 
is re-passed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses.
Publications  The Congressional Directory, the Senate Manual, and the 
House Rules and Manual may be obtained from the Superintendent of 
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.