The Legislative Process How a Bill becomes a Law

The Big Picture House Senate President A bill must pass both the House and Senate then be signed by the President to become a law

1. Bill Introduction The President, a member of Congress, an interest group, on an individual has an idea for a new law or a change to an existing law Anyone can write a bill

2. Bill Sponsorship Only a member of Congress can sponsor a bill Member of Congress signs his name on the bill Private Bill: affects a specific person, organization, or location Public Bill: affects the general population or country at large

3. Bill in the Hopper After the idea for a bill is developed and the text of the bill is written, a member of Congress must officially introduce the bill by dropping the bill into the hopper Representatives usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents Representatives who sponsor bills will try to gain support for them, in hopes that they will become laws

4. Bill with the Clerk House clerk removes the bill from the Hopper, numbers each bill as it is introduced, and give the bill a short title The clerk then hands the bill to the Speaker Example: H.R. 101 (Legalize Marijuana) The Honorable Lorraine C. Miller Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives The Clerk Picked me! H.R. 101

5. Bill with the Speaker Bill is given it’s first reading by the Speaker or the reading clerk Bill is immediately printed and distributed to members Speaker assigns the bill to the appropriate committee

6. Bill in the Committee The bill is referred to the appropriate committee. The 19 House committees and 16 Senate committees each have jurisdiction over different areas of public policy Committee Chairperson decides when the committee will meet to discuss the bill Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up) Committee may hold public or private hearings on the bill Committee will vote on the bill

7. Bill in Rules Committee The Rules Committee controls the calendar for the House. They will determine if and when the bill will be considered and how much time will be allowed for its debate. Will also decide if the bill may be changed (amended) during debate The bill is sent to the House Floor for consideration

8. Floor Debate Floor actions begins and members debate the bill Bill is given its 2nd reading Due to the size of the House, debate time is strictly limited Following debate, the House is ready to vote on the bill Open or Closed Rule

9. Floor Vote Voice Vote Standing Vote Teller Vote Roll-Call Vote Computerized Vote Bill must receive a majority to pass Given 3rd and final reading, and sent to the Senate

10. Bill with Senate Secretary The Secretary of the Senate will "clock" the bill when it arrives and present it to the acting President Pro Tempore I’m half way through the process, I hope I can make it through the Senate! H.R. 101

11. Bill with Pro Tempore Bill receives it’s 1st reading in the Senate (reading clerk) President Pro Tempore assigns the bill to the appropriate committee

12. Bill in Senate Committee Committee Chairperson decides when the committee will meet to discuss the bill Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up) Committee may hold public or private hearings on the bill Committee will vote on the bill

13. Majority Leader If the bill survives the Senate Committee, it is presented to the Majority Leader who decides if or when to bring it to the floor for debate Harry Reid (D-NV)

14. Senate Floor Debate No time limit for debate (2nd reading of bill) Filibuster: “talk a bill to death” (stalling tactic) Senators try to monopolize the Senate floor to prevent action (voting) on a bill Cloture Rule: 3/5 of the Senate (60 Senators) vote to invoke the rule. From that point, no more than 30 hours of floor time may be spent on that bill Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) 24 hours 18 minute Filibuster

15. Senate Floor Vote Senate does NOT have a computerized voting system Senate will use roll call, teller, or voice vote Bill must get a majority vote to pass 3rd and final reading if it passes Vote Yes! H.R. 101

16. Conference Committee Joint committee formed by members of both the House and Senate (appointed by the Speaker and Pro Tempore) Bill must pass the House and Senate in identical form If either chamber changed the bill, it must go to a conference committee Conference committee will “iron out” any differences on the bill before going to the President Hey guys, work things out, I want to see the President! H.R. 101

17. Bill with the President President Has 3 Options: A. Sign the Bill B. Veto the Bill C. Do nothing at all

A. President Signs the Bill Bill becomes a LAW!

B. President Veto’s the Bill Rejects the bill and sends it back to Congress Congress may override a veto by a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate

C. President Does Nothing If Congress stays in session, after 10 days the bill will automatically become a law If Congress adjourns, after 10 days the bill will automatically die (pocket veto) H.R. 101 Even if the President ignores me, I still may become a law!

Other Legislative Terms Pork-barrel legislation Rider Christmas Tree Bill