Majority/Minority Parties
House:
  • The Majority is Republican
  • The Minority is Democratic
Senate:
  • The Majority is Democratic
  • The Minority is republican


Qualifications and Term Length
House:
  • 25 years old
  • Reside in the U.S. for at least 7 years
  • Two-year terms
Senate:
  • 30 years old
  • Reside in the U.S. for at least 9 years
  • Six-year terms


Leadership Positions

Houseof Representatives:

Republican Leadership:
  • Speaker of the House: John Boehner
The Speaker acts as leader of the House. He is presiding officer, administrative head, and a representative all in one. The Speaker of the House is second in line to succeed the President, after the Vice President.
  • Majority Leader: Rep. Eric Cantor
The majority leader represents Republicans on the House floor.

  • Majority Whip: Rep. Kevin McCarthy
The majority whip assists leadership in managing the party's legislative program.

  • Minority Leader:Nancy PelosiThe minority leader works with Republicans to set the party agenda, message and strategy. She is the senior official of the minority party in the House of Representatives.
  • Minority Whip:Steny HoyerThe minority whip counts votes and persuades members to support the Republican conference’s position on votes.

Senate Leadership:
  • President Pro Tempore: Daniel K. Inouve
President Pro Tempore means, "president for a time". He presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent.
  • Majority Leader: Harry Reid
The majority leader is the primary spokesperson for the majority party in the Senate. He works with each committee on legislation and scheduling the sequence and manner of debate on legislation.
  • Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell
The minority leader sets up the minority party’s agenda, message and strateg. He is the senior official for the minority party in the Senate.

  • Majority Whip: Richard Durbin
The majority whip gathers votes from the 2nd ranking member of the Senate

  • Minority Whip: Jon Kyl
The minority whip counts votes and persuades members to support the party’s position on votes.

Wyoming Congressional Delegation
Senators
  • John Barrasso (Republican)
    • elected June 2007-2014
    • Resident of Casper, Wyoming
    • Committees:
      • Energy and Natural Resources
      • Foreign Relations
      • Environment and Public Works
      • Indian Affairs
    • Involvement:
      • Energy and Public Lands
      • Wyoming's Wilderness and Wildlife
      • Protected Coal Industry
      • most conservative member of the Senate
      • opposed Obama's Stimulus Package

  • Michael Enzi (Republican)
    • first elected to office on November 5, 1996
    • Next election: November 4, 2014
    • Resides in Gilette, Wyoming
    • Committees
      • Senate Committee on the Budget
      • Senate Committee on Finance
      • subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
      • Subcommittee on Health Care
      • Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS oversight
      • Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (ranking minority member)
      • Small Business on Small businesses and Entrepreneurship

Sole Representative
  • Cynthia Lummis
    • first elected to office on November 4, 2008
    • next election: November 6, 2012
    • Committees
      • House Committee on Appropriations
      • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies
      • Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, and Related agencies
      • Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related agencies

Law Making Process

This link contains a interactive flow chart explaining how a bill becomes a law. Click on each box to see more details!
http://www.lexisnexis.com/help/CU/The_Legislative_Process/How_a_Bill_Becomes_Law.htm