1. The Lawmaking Process Whos who in this process?

2. Introduction The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complicated process. Out of the thousands of bills introduced in Congress each year, only a small handful ever make it to the President for approval, and fewer still that are actually signed into law. So what exactly does it take for a bill to become law? And what parts do the House, Senate, committees, and specific individuals in Congress play in this confounding process? The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complicated process. Out of the thousands of bills introduced in Congress each year, only a small handful ever make it to the President for approval, and fewer still that are actually signed into law. So what exactly does it take for a bill to become law? And what parts do the House, Senate, committees, and specific individuals in Congress play in this confounding process?

3. Representative What role does a representative play in the lawmaking process? What role does a representative play in the lawmaking process? The life-cycle of a bill starts with a member of congress (either a Representative or a Senator). Often times, a Representative will introduce a bill into legislation because he (or she) promised to their specific region of citizens that they would do so if they won election to the House. So the idea for a bill can arise from elsewhere, but the actual, physical introduction of a bill ultimately starts with a Representative (or Senator). The life-cycle of a bill starts with a member of congress (either a Representative or a Senator). Often times, a Representative will introduce a bill into legislation because he (or she) promised to their specific region of citizens that they would do so if they won election to the House. So the idea for a bill can arise from elsewhere, but the actual, physical introduction of a bill ultimately starts with a Representative (or Senator). The House plays a large role in the legislation process. Once a Representative introduces a bill, it is passed on to a specific committee relating to the bill. If the committee approves the bill, it is moved on to the rest of the House to approve it (or kill it). If 2/3 of the House approves it, then it is passed on to the Senate for approval. The House plays a large role in the legislation process. Once a Representative introduces a bill, it is passed on to a specific committee relating to the bill. If the committee approves the bill, it is moved on to the rest of the House to approve it (or kill it). If 2/3 of the House approves it, then it is passed on to the Senate for approval.

4. Senators What role do Senators play in the lawmaking process? What role do Senators play in the lawmaking process? Senators play many roles in the lawmaking process. For one, a Senator can introduce a bill if he (or she) wants to. A senator can also decide to not approve a bill, and if 2/3 Senators dont vote for a bill, then the bill is killed. Senators play many roles in the lawmaking process. For one, a Senator can introduce a bill if he (or she) wants to. A senator can also decide to not approve a bill, and if 2/3 Senators dont vote for a bill, then the bill is killed. When the Senate receives a bill from the House, it either rejects the bill (killing it), or it can amend that bill and send it back to the House for approval. The Senate can also approve a bill (with a 2/3 vote) without attaching any amendments and, if approved by the House as well (with a 2/3 vote), the bill is finally passed on to the President for approval. If, at any time, a bill fails to get a 2/3 vote from both the House and the Senate, then the bill is killed and is moved back to square one. When the Senate receives a bill from the House, it either rejects the bill (killing it), or it can amend that bill and send it back to the House for approval. The Senate can also approve a bill (with a 2/3 vote) without attaching any amendments and, if approved by the House as well (with a 2/3 vote), the bill is finally passed on to the President for approval. If, at any time, a bill fails to get a 2/3 vote from both the House and the Senate, then the bill is killed and is moved back to square one.

5. The President What role does the President play in the lawmaking process? What role does the President play in the lawmaking process? The President, perhaps, plays the simplest, yet also the largest role in the lawmaking process. Once a bill has made it through the quagmire of Congress, it is passed on to the President for the last step in the process: approval. If approved by the President, the bill finally becomes law. If vetoed, it does not become law unless a 2/3 vote from both the House and the Senate override the veto. The President, perhaps, plays the simplest, yet also the largest role in the lawmaking process. Once a bill has made it through the quagmire of Congress, it is passed on to the President for the last step in the process: approval. If approved by the President, the bill finally becomes law. If vetoed, it does not become law unless a 2/3 vote from both the House and the Senate override the veto.

6. Vice President What role does the Vice President have in the lawmaking process? What role does the Vice President have in the lawmaking process? The Vice President really plays no role in the legislative process. That is, he plays no part in the actual debate in the House and Senate floors that determines whether a bill be passed on to the President for approval. He just signs the bill once it is ready to be passed on to the President for approval. The Vice President really plays no role in the legislative process. That is, he plays no part in the actual debate in the House and Senate floors that determines whether a bill be passed on to the President for approval. He just signs the bill once it is ready to be passed on to the President for approval. He can also serve as a tie- breaker voter in the approval process, if need be. He can also serve as a tie- breaker voter in the approval process, if need be.

7. Speaker of the House What role does the Speaker of the House play in the lawmaking process? The Speaker of the House usually doesnt take part in the floor debates that take place when the House and Senate are deciding on whether or not to pass a bill. The Speaker is like the Vice President, in that he (or she) signs the bill if the bill ends up making it to the President.

8. House Majority Leader What role does the House Majority Leader play in the lawmaking process? What role does the House Majority Leader play in the lawmaking process? The House Majority Leader serves, as one may guess, a leader over both parties in the Senate, orchestrating proceedings, such as debate on a bill, the name and size of committees, and serving as a floor leader. The House Majority Leader serves, as one may guess, a leader over both parties in the Senate, orchestrating proceedings, such as debate on a bill, the name and size of committees, and serving as a floor leader.

9. House Minority Whip What role does the House Minority Whip play in the lawmaking process? What role does the House Minority Whip play in the lawmaking process? A House Minority Whip almost serves as a security agent in the House. His job in the legislative process is to make sure that elected Representatives are present when important votes are being taken, and also to make sure that they vote according to the party policy. A House Minority Whip almost serves as a security agent in the House. His job in the legislative process is to make sure that elected Representatives are present when important votes are being taken, and also to make sure that they vote according to the party policy.

10. Lobbyist What role does a Lobbyist play in the lawmaking process? What role does a Lobbyist play in the lawmaking process? Lobbyists arent very influential in the actual lawmaking process, but they are influential when they think a certain bill should be introduced. The main purpose of a lobbyist is to persuade a member of congress to enact a bill that they think should be introduced. Lobbyists arent very influential in the actual lawmaking process, but they are influential when they think a certain bill should be introduced. The main purpose of a lobbyist is to persuade a member of congress to enact a bill that they think should be introduced. They are also, in a sense, the stepping- stone between a normal citizen and a member of congress. A citizen may want a bill to be introduced that they think would benefit them, so they take their case to a lobbyist and then the lobbyist will try and persuade a Representative or a Senator to introduce the proposed bill into legislation. They are also, in a sense, the stepping- stone between a normal citizen and a member of congress. A citizen may want a bill to be introduced that they think would benefit them, so they take their case to a lobbyist and then the lobbyist will try and persuade a Representative or a Senator to introduce the proposed bill into legislation.

11. Citizens What role do citizens play in the lawmaking process? What role do citizens play in the lawmaking process? One may think that Citizens of the United States have no role in the lawmaking process. In fact, they actually do have no role in the actual process; however, they do have some sway in what bills are introduced into legislation by having the power to vote for certain Representatives that promise to introduce certain bills into legislation. In that sense, they do have some say in what bills are introduced. One may think that Citizens of the United States have no role in the lawmaking process. In fact, they actually do have no role in the actual process; however, they do have some sway in what bills are introduced into legislation by having the power to vote for certain Representatives that promise to introduce certain bills into legislation. In that sense, they do have some say in what bills are introduced. They can also pay a lobbyist to persuade a member of Congress to enact a bill if they think it will benefit them. They can also pay a lobbyist to persuade a member of Congress to enact a bill if they think it will benefit them.

12. Works Cited "The Legislative Process." The Center On Congress. Web. 4 Nov 2010.. "The Legislative Process." The Center On Congress. Web. 4 Nov 2010..http://www.centeroncongress.org/backgroun ders/the_legislative_process.phphttp://www.centeroncongress.org/backgroun ders/the_legislative_process.php "How a Bill Becomes a Law Board Game." Families USA. Web. 7 Nov 2010.. "How a Bill Becomes a Law Board Game." Families USA. Web. 7 Nov 2010..http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/tools- for-advocates/tips/board-game.htmlhttp://www.familiesusa.org/resources/tools- for-advocates/tips/board-game.html

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