Getting elected into Congress is one of the most effective ways to serve your country again after you decide to leave military life behind. As a Congressperson, you will have the ability to push for the beneficial changes necessary to protect the interests of the United States of America. You will also help safeguard and improve your local community.
However, before you decide to run for a seat, you should clearly understand how Congress operates. This step is vital to ensure that you make correct judgments and decisions.
This article presents all the necessary information on the primary leadership structures found in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Read on and help yourself make your dream of Veteran leadership in Congress a reality!
United States Senate
The United States Senate has a total of 100 members, with each state providing two senators. Despite such a low number of members, the structure of the U.S. Senate is more complex than that of the House of Representatives.
The prominent leadership positions found in Senate are as follows: president of the Senate, president pro tempore, leader, whip, and elected Senate officers.
President of the Senate
The position of the president of the Senate is traditionally held by the Vice President of the United States. The Vice President cannot vote on debated matters as a Senator would — instead, they preside over the chamber and can break any tie votes.
The president of the Senate can also announce the results of electoral college votes for themselves and the President of the United States. They are also required to preserve order in the Senate chamber, appoint committee chairs, and refer bills to them, as well as sign legislation and warrants.
President Pro Tempore
Also known as president pro tem, the president pro tempore is the second highest-ranking member of the Senate. As the president of the Senate is traditionally the Vice President, they will likely be frequently absent from the chamber because of other duties. President pro tem is therefore elected to act in their stead.
Contrary to the president of the Senate, the president pro tempore is elected from the ranks of the senators. It gives them the power to vote on debated issues instead of acting only as a tie-breaker.
President pro tempore is usually third in line for succession to the presidency after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House.
Senate Leaders and Whips
The majority leader is the head of the majority party in the Senate. They are responsible for developing the calendar of legislative business, representing the majority party during the floor debates, and advising the Senate Republican Conference or the Senate Democratic Caucus on the daily legislative program.
The Senate minority leader is the head of the minority party in the Senate, and their duties are similar to those of the majority leader. Senate minority leaders lead the debate for the minority party, negotiate with their majority opponents and develop the official position of the minority party.
Whips are the second-ranking members of the Senate majority and minority parties. They are responsible for counting votes, maintaining party unity, and communicating with other party members about legislative issues.
Senate Elected Officers
A few additional positions in the Senate are unrelated to the central leadership structures. The Secretary of the Senate is responsible for maintaining all the official records of the Senate and taking care of procurement.
The Sergeant at Arms holds the jurisdiction to enforce the upper chamber’s rules and arrest the POTUS if the Senate deems it necessary.
Finally, the Senate Chaplain is responsible for providing spiritual guidance to the members of the Senate, as well as to their staff and families.
United States House of Representatives
There are 435 members in the House, with each state represented by a certain number of congress members (depending on the state’s population). However, despite the more significant number of members, the House has a more straightforward leadership structure than the Senate.
The principal leadership positions in the House are Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Majority and Minority Whips.
Speaker of the House
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives. People who become Speakers of the House are usually elected during the first session of a new Congress.
Each major party conference or caucus nominates a candidate, who is then elected by a roll call vote. Although it is customary to vote for a candidate from one’s party, representatives are not required to do so — it is possible to vote for anyone. To win the election, the candidate must get the absolute majority of the cast votes.
The Speaker of the House is the second-highest ranking official in the United States after the Vice President. They are also the leader of the House and are responsible for presiding over the lower chamber, appointing members to committees, and referring bills to them.
The Speaker of the House is also responsible for administering the Oath of Office to members of the House of Representatives.
House Leaders and Whips
The leaders and whips in the House of Representatives have similar duties to those in the Senate. The majority leader is responsible for creating the legislative calendar and managing the House committees, while the minority leader promotes their party’s agenda.
Contrary to the Senate majority leader, the House majority leader is not the highest member of their caucus or conference. The Speaker of the House holds that position.
Whips are the assistant leaders of both the majority and minority parties in the House. They are responsible for communicating with other party members about legislative matters and coordinating their responses.
In Conclusion
Although the leadership structures of the two chambers of Congress may seem very complex at first, they are actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.
Both chambers of Congress include majority and minority leaders, as well as their deputies — the whips. The Senate also consists of the president of the Senate, the president pro tempore (who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President), and a few other elected officers.
The Speaker of the House is the highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives and presides over the chamber.
Now that you know all about the main leadership structures in Congress, you are one step closer to running for the seat of your dreams and becoming a Veteran leader yourself! Good luck with your elections!