How a Bill Becomes a Law

What is a Bill? A bill is a written idea for a law. A bill can be started in either the HoR or Senate Since both houses must agree to pass a bill, only 3% of all bills become laws

Types of Bills Bill: proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration Joint Resolution: Proposal for some action that has the force of law when passed Concurrent Resolution: A statement of position on an issue, adopted by the House and Senate acting jointly Does NOT have Force of Law Does NOT require President’s signature Resolution: A measure dealing with some matter in one house

Rider Rider: Provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to an important bill to pass Typically attached to Appropriations ($) Bills Example: In 2010, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed to reform Health Care. A Rider for Student Loan Reform was attached to the Bill and therefore was also Passed.

Step 1: An Idea is Introduced Given a title Given a number If it starts in the HoR, its title begins with H.R. If it starts in the Senate, its title begins with S. Idea is placed in the “hopper” Clerk announces the Representative or Senator who proposed the bill The bill gets its first reading in either the HoR or Senate

WHO Can Introduce a Bill IDEA? Individual citizens (constituents) write to their Senator or Representative with an idea That Senator or Representative takes it from there OR Interest Group A politician comes up with the idea themselves

Next Step: Sent to Committee The fate of most bills is decided here Types of committees: Appropriations: Where money is spent Budget: How money is spent Armed Services: Defense, military Labor: Working conditions Foreign Affairs: Relations with other countries Judiciary: Courts, impeachment

Committee Actions 3 Main Actions Can be in (sub)committee for 6 months to a year 3 Main Actions Yes to the Bill & Passed Along to House or Senate May get “marked up” (amended-changed) & Passed Along May end up in Committee for ever (Pigeonholed) Discharge Petition: Procedure enabling members to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in committee onto the floor for consideration

Next Step: Floor Action Debate the bill in the HoR and Senate (Senate can filibuster at this point) Filibuster: tactics aimed at defeating a bill by preventing a final vote attempt to “talk a bill to death” Cloture: procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate Any Congressman can propose an amendment during this stage Sometimes done simply to slow the process or kill the bill Need a majority vote to add an amendment

Next Step: Conference Committee If a House version and a Senate version pass Floor Debate Sent to Conference Committee to revise the Bill GOAL of Conference Committee: Revise both versions of Bill and make 1 compromise Bill Once Bill is revised, SAME version is sent to BOTH houses for a VOTE.

Next Step: Voting Before the voting can begin… A quorum (majority) of Congress must be present Time to Vote!! “Recorded Vote” A button is pushed; their vote is displayed on screen Constituents can see how their Representatives/Senators vote A majority of members of both the HoR and Senate must agree to pass the bill

Last Step: Presidential Action The President can do the following with a bill: Sign it (Bill Becomes Law!) Veto it (bill goes back to Congress) Pocket Veto it (president does not act on the bill within 10 days)

If Bill is Vetoed by President 3 Options Congress can take: Revise the bill to meet the President’s expectations or desires Forget about the Bill, put back in hopper, try again later or next session Attempt an override of the President’s Veto Congress can override a veto with 2/3 majority vote in BOTH houses