So I have a basic question about our Congress

[lapfog_1]

All of these positions that are being voted on by the Republican and Democratic caucus(es), one like Majority Leader, Minority Leader, minority whip (now THAT's a San Francisco values name if I ever heard one), and so on. Are they "official" as in either constitutional or federal law positions or just traditional from House or Senate rules? It seems like the Speaker (a constitutional office) and the Senate Majority Leader (also constitutional?? or it that just the President of the Senate - which is the VPOTUS and the President Pro Tem) get to name their committee chairs. But these other Party Leadership positions are voted on... so my question is "Why is that?" Why not let the four party leaders (majority and minority - House and Senate) simply name whoever they want for these other jobs. They pretty much get to hand out a lot of the assignments, why not all of the jobs?

Not looking for a discussion of candidates for any of these positions, only an education as to how things came to be the way they are now... and has it always been that way... and what keeps it from changing?

Thanks.

[MADem]

1. This should clear it up for you -- they're party positions

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=House_Majority_Leader

[lapfog_1]

3. Thanks...

so it would seem that other than the Speaker position, which is voted on by the full House, the rest are traditional House rules which could be changed. Right? And since the Repukes have been so f'ing cavalier about rules and tradition (like the nuclear option in the Senate to prevent filibusters), maybe the Dems can be cavalier about these rules as well.

good for the goose is good for the gander and all that.

Interesting where the term "whip" came from. Fox hunting. (That's another activity that I'd like our Representatives to take up in the new Congress... but not the furry little animals, err, not the CUTE furry little animals).

Thanks for the reference.

Maybe it's time we propose a unitary Speaker.

[KharmaTrain]

2. These Are Caucus Elections

In January when the 110th Congress meets for the first time, there will a vote for the new Speaker...that's the only constitutional office. Since Democrats are in the majority, Pelosi will be elected. The same goes on in the Senate for the Majority leader who then appoints the President Pro Tem (almost always the Senator with the most senority...so it's Byrd, again).

These appointments are almost written in stone for the next two years. Even party's caucus is responsible for the assignments in the various committees and rarely make changes. It was difficult to strip William Jefferson of his assingments, but it was done.

This week, there's four caucus votes. Two have already occured...with Reid being re-selected as the Democratic Leader and now McConnell as the Repugnican one. Tomorrow the House Democrats will chose between Murtha & Hoyer for their "floor leader" and on Friday (I assume) the Repugnicans will pick the future minority leader.

It's not really that complicated...just Washington.