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I was watching the senate and congress sessions lately
Does anyone know how the senate and congress work: and why the room is usually empty, and why the vp, or the speaker are not usually there, and someone else is in their seat, and someone else is called secretary?
How did you manage to stay awake?
pixelate, the VP almost never presides over the Senate. It is presided over by a President Pro Tempore, who acts as the Senate President. The only time the VP is there is when there’s a tie or other important events like the opening or certifying the electors.
The same is with the House, the Speaker can give over authority to other Reps to act as Speaker and that is what is often done. The room is usually empty because nobody really cares for what the other guy is saying, or the other members are in meetings.
Formal sessions of the full houses are rare. Most legislation is routine, and each party sends a few people to make sure the other doesn’t sneak anything through, and they pass everything on a voice vote. Unless someone asks for a quorum call, they can ignore the fact the room is largely empty. Full sessions are only for really important business.
The real work is done in committees and conferences, many of which are scheduled in advance and open to the public, and occasionally televised.
The way Congress works is just like an auction: highest bidders gets the laws they want. The rest is commentary.
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