1.What is a divided government? 2._________ committees are temporary committees. 3._________ is when laws bring benefits and government projects to a Congresspersons’ district.

1.Warm Up 2.Finish Powers of Congress 3.How A Bill Becomes A Law 4.Congress Test March 2 5.Study Guide due March 2 Students will be able to describe the process by which a bill becomes a law. Feb. 25, 2016

How A Bill Becomes A Law

A bill is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration. A bill or resolution usually deals with a single matter, but sometimes a rider dealing with an unrelated matter is included. The clerk of the House numbers each bill, gives it a short title, and enters it into the House Journal and the Congressional Record for the day. With these actions the bill has received its first reading. Beginning of the Bill

Representatives introduce bills by placing them in the bill hopper that is attached to the side of the Clerk's desk. The term comes from a funnel-shaped storage bin filled from the top and emptied from the bottom. The storage bins usually hold grain or coal.

The Bill Committee Discharge Petitions Most bills die in committee, pigeonholed, or put away, never to be acted upon. If a committee pigeonholes a bill that a majority of the House wishes to consider, it can be brought out of committee via a discharge petition. Gathering Information Most committees do their work through several subcommittees— divisions of existing committees formed to address specific issues. Committees and subcommittees often hold public hearings or make a junket (trip) to gather information relating to a measure.

Committee Actions

A bill is placed into one of five calendars before going to the floor for consideration: 1. The Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 2. The House Calendar 3. The Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House 4. The Consent Calendar 5. The Discharge Calendar Bill on the Floor H.R. Before most measures can be taken from a calendar, the Rules Committee must approve that step and set a time for its appearance on the floor.

On the Senate Floor : The only difference is the Filibuster – can stand and talk as long as they can in order to stall the bill To stop a Filibuster: 1. The Senate can put the bill aside and move on 2. Vote to end the filibuster-Cloture- 3/5 or 60 has to agree

Committee of the Whole The Committee of the Whole includes all members of the House, however, they sit as one large committee and not as the House itself. When the Committee of the Whole resolves itself, the Speaker steps down and another member presides. General debate follows. Debate Severe limits are placed on floor debate due to the House’s large size. Majority and minority floor leaders generally decide in advance how they will split the time to be spent on a bill.

Voting on a Bill

When Representatives vote on a bill they usually use the Electronic Voting Machine. To record their vote, Representatives slide their voting cards into the machine then select yea, nay, or present. The machine tallies the results.

Senate – Nearly that same process and then on to ………….. The President Once a bill has been approved at second reading, it is engrossed, or printed in its final form. It is then read for a third time and a final vote is taken. Final Steps…………

Once the leaders of both Chambers have signed-off, the Clerk of the House delivers the bill to a clerk at the White House and obtains a receipt. When the President receives the bill, he has three options: Pass: If the President approves the bill he signs it and, usually, writes “approved” and the date, although the Constitution only requires his signature. Veto: If the President does not approve the bill, he must return it to its Chamber of origin with his objections within 10 days. Pocket Veto: If the President receives the bill and does not sign or return it to Congress with objections within 10 days—excluding Sundays—it becomes law as long as Congress remains in session. If Congress recesses before the 10 days have passed, the bill dies.

Bill Introduced & Given a H.R.# Referred to a Committee Referred to a Subcommittee Goes back to the Committee Rules Committee - Debate time Open rule- change or amend Closed rule – no change House Floor for Debate/Vote Bill is introduced & given a S# Referred to the Committee Referred to Subcommittee Senate floor Debate/ Vote > Filibuster- can stand and talk as long as they want.. 1. they can put the bill aside & move on 2. vote to end the Filibuster- Cloture- 3/5 or 60 have to agree Goes back to the committee Conference Committee ( joint Comm.) => 2 versions => 1 goes back to the HR and Senate to be voted on Pres. => Signed or => Veto (2/3 to override) => Pocket Veto or => Congress in session 10 days Becomes law House of Representatives Senate