Officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives

OFFICERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

IDENTIFY THE OFFICER: Speaker of the House, House Majority Leader, House Minority Leader, House Majority Whip, House Minority Whip, Vice President, President Pro Tempore, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Senate Majority Whip, Senate Minority Whip

1.  The House of Representatives has this officer which is the most important officer in that house. The majority party-the political party with the most members in the house elects the Speaker. He or she holds great power; the ability to influence the order of business in the House and the power to call representatives who want to speak.

2.  The majority party has this person in the House who ranks lower that the majority leader. Their job is to persuade members to vote for bills sponsored by their own political party. He or she can also try to persuade people of the opposite party to vote for the bill.

3.  The most important officer in the Senate is the Vice President of the United States. He or she runs the business of the Senate. The Vice President cannot vote on bills unless there is a tie.

4.  The minority party has this person in the House who ranks lower that the minority leader. Their job is to persuade members to vote for bills sponsored by their own political party. He or she can also try to persuade people of the opposite party to vote for the bill.

5.  The minority party has this person in the Senate who ranks lower that the minority leader. Their job is to persuade members to vote for bills sponsored by their own political party. He or she can also try to persuade people of the opposite party to vote for the bill.

6.  This person has the very important job of setting the agenda for the Senate. He serves as the spokesperson for his party and the most powerful leader in the Senate.

7.  When the Vice President is away from his job in the Senate, this person runs the Senate. The members of the Senate elect this officer, but the custom is to elect the longest serving member from the majority party to do the job.

8.  This person represents the party with the second most votes in the Senate. He serves as the majority party’s chief critic. He also serves as the spokesperson for his party.

9.  This person represents the party with the most votes in the House, and he helps plan the legislative program.

10.  This person represents the party with the second most votes in the House, and he is the spokesperson for his party in the House of Representatives.

11.  The majority party has this person in the Senate who ranks lower that the majority leader. Their job is to persuade members to vote for bills sponsored by their own political party. He or she can also try to persuade people of the opposite party to vote for the bill