How a Bill Becomes a Law How a Bill Becomes a Law.

The Sponsor is the person who proposes the bill A Bill is a proposed law The Sponsor is the person who proposes the bill Types of Bills Public Bills-applies to general public Private Bills –concern individuals

How a Bill Becomes a Law Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Sub Committee

A Bill Can Start in Either the House or Senate House of Representatives Senate

Introducing a Bill Senate - a motion from the floor House - placed in a box called the Hopper

Assign Bills to Committees Each bill is sent to a standing committee by either the Speaker of the House Majority Leader of the Senate (with help of the Steering Committee)

Types of Committees Standing Committees Select Committees Specialized committee that bill fall under jurisdiction Select Committees Temporary committees set up for investigative purposes Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses of Congress

Standing Committee House of Representatives

Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives

Can send bill to subcommittee or work on it in committee Standing Committee Can send bill to subcommittee or work on it in committee Research the bill, hear testimony, seek advice of experts, look for loopholes Committee Action Pigeon hole - Set aside for later discussion Clean bill - Scrap a bill and write a new bill to replace it “Mark Up” Amend the bill in subcommittee or committee Report bill favorably to floor (Pass as it is) Report bill unfavorably to floor (so they don’t have to be responsible for killing it by pigeonhole…This is done if the law is controversial and known by general public)

Saving a Bill from Committee When any bill has been in a “House Committee” for more than 30 days, a representative can ask the Bypass Committee to use a Discharge Petition (which requires a majority vote) to send the bill to the House floor.

Calendars Once passed by committee the bill is put on a calendar. Each bill must be voted on in the order it is placed on the calendar. House Union Private Consent

Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate

The Rules Committee Places all House bills on the calendar Set rules for debate (length of total debate and individual speaker time) Set rules for amendments Open Rule Closed Rule Modified Rule Committee of the Whole can be used to continue debate (requires 100 reps to be in chamber) but all actions must be approved by the entire House.

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate

House Debate Rules Only one bill at a time can be debated Debate must be germane (related to topic) Debate time is limited Senate Debate Rules 2 or 3 bills can be debated at a time Debate does not have to be germane Debate time is NOT limited Filibusters - unlimited speaking on any issue Cloture Motion by 16 senators PRIOR TO a filibuster 3/5 vote of Senate will limit debate to 1 hour

Floor Action on Bills Pass the bill as written Table the bill on floor while voting for it. Send bill back to the committee for further study Amending the Bill Senate Only: Riders (non-germane amendments) are allowed

Voting in Congress Voice vote: “All in favor”, “All opposed”. Standing vote: Stand up when vote is called. Roll call vote: names called & you tell your vote. Mandatory method for overriding President’s veto. Electronic Vote

Senate Standing Committee

Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee

Senate Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Sub Committee

Bill Passes Both Houses It bill passes in exact same version from both Bill goes directly to President If it is passed in two versions conference committee is formed conference must reach agreement the revised bill is voted on in both chambers majority vote in each House will pass bill to the President

Majority vote in each house Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Majority vote in each house for passage. Sub Committee

up the Conference Committee. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee Senate Senate Floor Debate Members from both Senate and House make up the Conference Committee. Standing Committee Sub Committee

The bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate The bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Conference Committee Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub Committee

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub Committee

If the President signs the bill Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee If the President signs the bill then it becomes law. Sub Committee

Bill Becomes a Law When the President signs it, the bill becomes law If the President vetoes the bill it can still be passed with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. If the 2/3 of House & 2/3 of Senate override the veto, the bill becomes law

If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. Sub Committee

This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. Sub Committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Sub Committee