Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-05-18
OwGoveyument
How 1t Operates
BY William Bruckart
HOW CONGRESS
FUNCTIONS

T-IE galleries for visitors In the
L chambers of the senate and the
house are situated so as to give the
maximum view for everyone. but that
necessitated placing them on level
quite above the floors where the SEN
at0rs or the representatives have their
seats. That circumstance does not
always permit proper understanding
of debate. Many visitors go away
from the Capital. therefore, with an
impression that enactment of legsla-
ton is far too complex and intricate
for the mind of the lay person to com
prehend.
II Is unfortunate that this condition
prevails. but It Is not the only reason
why those seeing the house or the
senate In session for the first time fall
to understand what Is happening.
They see only part of the whole
picture of the legislative function.
They lack knowledge of the rules OF
the game. and they are not conyersant
with what has gone before.
The house and senate are on par
In dealing with the bulk OF the laws
that 20 on our statute books. but each
body has certain functions reserved
to 1t and with which the other one
has, and can have. no concern. The
house, by direction of the Constitu.
ton must originate all laws that raise
revenue. those that tax you and me.
and 1t also must start all laws-they
are bills while In the legislative ma
chinery - making appropriations Of
public moneys. The senate could
start them, of course but would not
mean anything. The senate, however
was given certain specific duties BY
the Constitution also. No treaties
with foreign nations are operative
until approved by the senate. II like
wise has the final say-so respecting
nearly all appointments to office made
by the President
II was suggested above that II the
visitor wanted to see the start Of the
talking picture. he would have to at
tend another theater. That other the
alter IS the committee room. There are
| AZ of these committees In the house
and 81 in the senate. They are per
manent committees. Special commit
tees are constantly being named to do
a specific job not readily susceptible
| Of being handled by enc OF the stand
Ing committees. such as an investlga
/ ton. Tn these committees Is where
the bulk OF the work Is done. where
the grain is threshed.
The regular and usual procedure
therefore, Is that a representative will
| Introduce a bill In the house. or q
senator will introduce one In the sen.
ate. Frequently. the same text OF a
measure will appear simultaneously IN
each body The rules provide for
| reference OF the bill to the committee
| having jurisdiction. The committee
has a regular meeting day; the new
/ bill Is taken up, usually with only
members OF the committee present
| and 1t Is talked over informally. II Il
be of great consequence the committee
will order that hearings be held 81
| that those favorlng the proposed Law
may state Its merits and that those op
posed to 1t may voice their opposition
and point out weaknesses In the bill
Sometimes those hearings will con
tlnue day after day over several weeks
AS a general rule. witness befor
a committee will be allowed to tell hi
story, to state his views. without In
terruption. When his statement |
finished, however. the committee mem
bers have their fling. Questions ar
not always designed to be fair. no
are they always aimed to bring GU
things which the witness desires 7
admit. It all depends on whether tn
committee member views the subjec
from the same angle. In consequence
the stenographic record Of testlmon
that always Ia taken sometimes make
literature akin to comedy. for Wi
nesses have a tendency to go too far
to leave themselves vulnerable to or
position criticism by overlooking veal
nesses In their own statements, or b
deliberate misrepresentation OF fact
Having taken all Of the testlmon
that Is offered. the committee agai
works behind closed doors. Not beln
under the necessity to watch out ft
the political effect of what they sa,
they talk frankly about the propos
ton before them, and reach an agree
ment. sometimes informally sometime
bv a record vote. as to the course the
will follow. In most cases. the bi
as It was sent to the committee neet
correcting. Amendments to accomplis
the purposes desired are drafted. Wit
the advice of experts employed by tt
house and senate for that purpose, ar
In final form, II the majority of Il
committee so votes, the bill Is ordert
10 be reported to the house with Il
recommendation that the bill do pass
or to the senate, If 1t be senate cor
mittee.
THE fact that the bill has been SCI
hack to the house or to the senate
one OF Its committees does not mef
TINT It ever will see the light OF da
: n...atfrolu cDpaly}nr Indeed III