ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 112TH CONGRESS (2011-2012)
SPEAKER
MAJORITY WHIP
Republican Campaign Committee
MAJORITY LEADER
Republican Policy
Committee [Includes Speaker]
Committee on Rules
MINORITY LEADER				
				
Democratic Policy Committee [Includes Minority Leader]			MINORITY WHIP	
Democratic Campaign Committee
REPUBLICAN	I 242 Republican Members I	193 Democratic Members	DEMOCRATIC
CONFERENCE	I I		CAUCUS
No Vacancies (January 25, 2011)
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE, 112TH CONGRESS (2011-2012)
PRESIDING OFFICER
Vice President President Pro Tempore
MAJORITY LEADER
Democratic Policy Committee Chm., Majority Leader
MINORITY LEADER
Democratic Steering Committee
Republican Committee on Committees
MAJORITY WHIP
Republican Policy Committee
MINORITY WHIP
Democratic Campaign Committee
Republican Campaign Committee
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS	I 51 Democratic Members  I 47 Republican Members	REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE
	2 Independent ]	
No Vacancies (January 25, 2011)
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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HR 1 INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
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S 2 INTRODUCED IN SENATE
COMMITTEE ACTION
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REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
REPORTED BY FULL COMMITTEE
RULES COMMITTEE ACTION
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FLOOR ACTION
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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CONFERENCE ACTION
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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 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.