ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022)
SPEAKER
			MAJORITY LEADER	
				
MAJORITY WHIP			Democratic Policy Committee [Includes Speaker]	
				
Democratic Campaign Committee				
MINORITY LEADER
Committee on Rules
Republican Policy Committee [Includes Minority Leader]
MINORITY WHIP
Republican Campaign Committee
DEMOCRATIC	I 221 Democratic Members* !	211 Republican Members*	REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS	I i		CONFERENCE
*3 Vacancies (February 1, 2021)
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE, 117TH CONGRESS (2021-2022)*
PRESIDING OFFICER
Vice President President Pro Tempore
MAJORITY LEADER
Democratic Policy Committee Chm., Majority Leader
Democratic Steering Committee
MAJORITY WHIP
Democratic Campaign Committee
MINORITY LEADER
Republican Committee on Committees
Republican Policy Committee
MINORITY WHIP
Republican Campaign Committee
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
48 Democratic Members* 1 50 Republican Members 2 Independent !
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE
"Democrats have majority contol with Vice President Kamala Harris (February 1, 2021).
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
This graphic shows the most typical way in which proposed legislation is enacted into law. There are more complicated, as well as simpler, routes, and most bills fall by the wayside and never become law. The process is illustrated with two hypothetical bills, House bill No. 1 (HR 1) and Senate bill No. 2 (S 2).
Each bill must be passed by both houses of Congress in identical form before it can become law. The path of HR 1 is traced by a solid line, that of S 2 by a broken line. However, in practice most legislation begins as similar proposals in both houses.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
COMMITTEE ACTION
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S 2 INTRODUCED IN SENATE
COMMITTEE ACTION
REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE
REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
REPORTED BY FULL COMMITTEE
RULES COMMITTEE ACTION
FLOOR ACTION - I
HOUSE DEBATE, VOTE ON PASSAGE
Bill goes to full committee, then usually to specialized subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval. Then bill goes back to full committee where more hearings and revision may occur. Full committee may approve bill and recommend its chamber pass the proposal. Committees rarely give bill unfavorable report; rather, no action is taken, thereby killing it.
In House, many bills go before Rules Committee for "rule" expediting floor action, setting conditions for debate and amendments on floor. Some bills are "privileged" and go directly to floor. Other procedures exist for noncontroversial or routine bills. In Senate, special "rules" are not used; leadership normally schedules action.
Bill is debated, usually amended, passed or defeated. If passed, it goes to other chamber to follow the same route through committee and floor stages. (If other chamber has already passed related bill, both versions go straight to conference.)
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REFERRED TO SENATE COMMITTEE
REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
REPORTED BY FULL COMMITTEE
FLOOR ACTION
SENATE DEBATE, VOTE ON PASSAGE
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Once both chambers have passed related bills, conference committee of members from both houses is formed to work out differences.
Compromise version from conference is sent to each M chamber for final approval.
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Compromise version approved by both houses is sent to President who can either sign it into law or veto it and return it to Congress. Congress may override veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; bill then becomes law without President's signature.