Coach Kuntz United States History How A Bill Becomes Law Coach Kuntz United States History

1. Bills Begin As Ideas Citizens, elected representatives, or YOU might have an idea for a law that should be passed. Bill: A draft of a proposed law Law: A system of rules that a government creates

2. A Bill Is Drafted After an idea for a law, a bill is written. This bill will be discussed (debated) and changed during the process of turning the bill into a law.

3. A Bill Is Introduced in the House or Senate Bills can be introduced in the House or the Senate While anyone can write up a bill, only members of the House of Representatives or Senate can introduce bills in Congress. To “Introduce a Bill”, Representatives turn their bills in to the Speaker of the House and Senators turn their bills in to the Vice President/President Pro Tempore

4. A Bill Goes To Committee Committees are made up of only a few members of the house and senate and each committee only looks at certain types of bills (farming bills, science bills, tax bills). Bills are sent to committees by the Speaker of the House or Vice President/President Pro Tempore In committee, members of the committee research the bill, debate, and make changes to the bill. If a majority of the committee votes in favor of a bill it is sent to the entire Senate or House.

5. A Bill is Debated by the Entire House or Senate After bills are passed by committees, they are debated by the entire House or the entire Senate. The House or Senate can then hold a vote on a bill. If a bill passes, it is sent to a conference committee.

6. A Bill Goes to a Conference Committee A conference committee is a group made up of members of the House and the Senate. They will receive the bill that was passed by the house or senate, and they will try to reach a compromise on a single bill that the House and Senate can agree upon. The House or Senate might want things added or removed from the passed bill! This is why they must compromise! After the conference committee approves a bill, it goes back to the full House and Senate.

7. Final Vote The bill that was agreed on by the conference committee must be voted on and approved by BOTH chambers of Congress. If either the House or Senate votes against the bill it dies (does not become a law). Once both chambers have approved the bill, it goes to the President.

8. The Bill Goes to the President Once a bill is approved by Congress, it goes to the President. The President will either: Sign the bill Veto the bill If the President signs the bill, it’s now a LAW! If the President vetoes a bill, it goes back to Congress.

9. Congress Overrides A Veto If the President Vetoes a bill, it can still become law. When the President vetoes a bill, it goes back to Congress for one last vote. To override a veto, two-thirds of each chamber or Congress must vote in favor of the bill. If each chamber gets 2/3 in favor of the bill, it becomes law!