Social Sciences and History / Unit 8 SSH 0707 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Speaker, Majority Leader, Whip
Captions available
The idea
The Speaker leads the House and its majority party, second in presidential succession. The Senate's functional leader is the majority leader. Minority leaders direct their parties; whips enforce voting discipline. The majority controls the committees where legislation is written.
In practice
The president pro tempore, usually the senior majority senator.
Where people slip
Standing committees are permanent; select, temporary; joint, investigative.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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