So, they appoint men from each House to go to a huddle called a caucus and they battle it...
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Clarissa Saunders:
You're bill is ready. You take it over there and you introduce it. You get to your feet in the Senate and take a long breath and start spouting. But, not too loud, because a couple of the Senators might want to sleep. Then, a curly headed page boy takes it up to the desk where a long faced clerk reads it, refers it to the right committee, Jefferson Smith:
Why? Clarissa Saunders:
Look, committees are small groups of Senators that have to sift a bill down, look into it, study it, report to the whole Senate. You can't take a bill nobody ever heard about and discuss it among 96 men! Where would you get? Jefferson Smith:
Yeah, I see. Clarissa Saunders:
Good. Now, where are we? Jefferson Smith:
Some committee's got it. Clarissa Saunders:
Now, days have gone by Senator. Days. Weeks! Finally, they think its quite a bill. It goes over to the House of Representatives for debate and a vote. But, it has to wait its turn on the calendar. Jefferson Smith:
The calendar? Clarissa Saunders:
Yes. That's the order of business. Your bill has to stand way back there in line unless the steering committee thinks its important... Jefferson Smith:
What's that? Clarissa Saunders:
What? Jefferson Smith:
Steering committee? Clarissa Saunders:
You really think we're getting anywhere? Jefferson Smith:
Oh, yes, Miss Sauders, now, tell me, what's the Steering committee? Clarissa Saunders:
The committee of the majority party. They decide when a bill is important enough to be moved up to the head of the list. Jefferson Smith:
Oh, this is! Clarissa Saunders:
Pardon me, this is. Where are we now? Jefferson Smith:
We're in the House. Clarissa Saunders:
Oh, yeah, the House. More amendments. More changes and the bill goes back to the Senate, The Senate doesn't like what the House did to the bill, they make More changes. The House doesn't like those changes, stymied. Jefferson Smith:
So? Clarissa Saunders:
So, they appoint men from each House to go to a huddle called a caucus and they battle it out. Finally, if Your bill is still alive after all this devastation, it comes to a vote. Yes sir, the big day finally arrives - and Congress adjourns. Catching on Senator?
You're bill is ready. You take it over there and you introduce it. You get to your feet in the Senate and take a long breath and start spouting. But, not too loud, because a couple of the Senators might want to sleep. Then, a curly headed page boy takes it up to the desk where a long faced clerk reads it, refers it to the right committee, Jefferson Smith:
Why? Clarissa Saunders:
Look, committees are small groups of Senators that have to sift a bill down, look into it, study it, report to the whole Senate. You can't take a bill nobody ever heard about and discuss it among 96 men! Where would you get? Jefferson Smith:
Yeah, I see. Clarissa Saunders:
Good. Now, where are we? Jefferson Smith:
Some committee's got it. Clarissa Saunders:
Now, days have gone by Senator. Days. Weeks! Finally, they think its quite a bill. It goes over to the House of Representatives for debate and a vote. But, it has to wait its turn on the calendar. Jefferson Smith:
The calendar? Clarissa Saunders:
Yes. That's the order of business. Your bill has to stand way back there in line unless the steering committee thinks its important... Jefferson Smith:
What's that? Clarissa Saunders:
What? Jefferson Smith:
Steering committee? Clarissa Saunders:
You really think we're getting anywhere? Jefferson Smith:
Oh, yes, Miss Sauders, now, tell me, what's the Steering committee? Clarissa Saunders:
The committee of the majority party. They decide when a bill is important enough to be moved up to the head of the list. Jefferson Smith:
Oh, this is! Clarissa Saunders:
Pardon me, this is. Where are we now? Jefferson Smith:
We're in the House. Clarissa Saunders:
Oh, yeah, the House. More amendments. More changes and the bill goes back to the Senate, The Senate doesn't like what the House did to the bill, they make More changes. The House doesn't like those changes, stymied. Jefferson Smith:
So? Clarissa Saunders:
So, they appoint men from each House to go to a huddle called a caucus and they battle it out. Finally, if Your bill is still alive after all this devastation, it comes to a vote. Yes sir, the big day finally arrives - and Congress adjourns. Catching on Senator?
Full Transcript
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Your bill has to stand back in line
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unless the steering committee What's that
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Steering committee
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Do you really think we're getting anywhere
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Tell me what's the steering committee
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Committee of the majority party leaders
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They decide when a bill is important enough to be at the head of the list
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Well this is
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Pardon me This is
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Where are we now Over in the House
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Oh yeah House
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More amendments more changes and the bill goes back to the Senate
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The Senate doesn't like what the House did they make more changes
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The House doesn't like those changes Stymied
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So
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So they appoint men from each House to go into a huddle
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called a conference and they battle it out
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Finally if your bill is still alive after all this vivisection
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it comes to a vote
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Yes sir The big day finally arrives
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and Congress adjourns
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Catching on senator
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Movie Summary
A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his c...
Actors
Clarissa Saunders
Jefferson Smith
