* 07/16/96 Mr. McBryde’s Class 7th Grade Texas History *

Objective: Analyze how a bill becomes a law

Schoolhouse Rock Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otbml6WIQPo

Review: What are some laws you can think of? Who all makes up congress? What happens in the event of a Veto?

Bill to Law Graphic Organizer:

Who can propose a law? Anyone can suggest an idea for a law. However, only a Member of Congress can take a proposed law to the House of Representatives or the Senate.

What happens first? A member of Congress drafts a bill Bill is Submitted to Congress. Bill is then sent to the appropriate committee.

The Standing Committee Permanent committee in Congress that studies bills related to a general topic, such as education, agriculture or science.

The Subcommittee The subcommittee studies bills related to a sub-set of the topics. Most of the discussion in Congress takes place here. The subcommittee may also decide to stop action on a bill that they think is not necessary.

The Subcommittee - continued The subcommittee first holds hearings on the bill Amendments (changes) to the bill are then suggested and voted on. Finally, the subcommittee votes on whether to take the bill to the full committee for a vote.

The Standing Committee The committee discusses the bill. Committee members suggest and vote on amendments. The committee votes on whether to send the bill to the full House or Senate.

The Floor (whole House or Senate) The bill is placed on the calendar of the House or Senate until it is scheduled for discussion. The House and Senate have different rules for debating the bill.

Debate on the House floor Before debate begins, Time limits are set. (usually 3-5 minutes) First a Member speaks who is for the bill and then one who is against. Debate continues in this way.

Debate on the House floor – cont. Debate on a bill can be ended by a simple majority vote. Amendments to the bill can be suggested and debated. Finally, the bill is put to a vote.

Debate on the Senate floor There are no time limits to debate in the Senate. Amendments may be offered at any time during debate. At the end of debate, the bill is put to a vote.

What happens next? Both the House and the Senate must pass similar forms of a bill. If a bill is passed in only the House or the Senate, it is sent to the other one for debate, amendment and a vote. After, bills are sent to a conference committee.

The Conference Committee Conference committee includes members of both the House and the Senate. They re-write the bill in a form that they think will pass and vote on it.

Back to the floor The conference committee bill is sent to the House for a vote. If the House passes the bill, it is sent to the Senate. House or the Senate does not pass the bill, it dies. If the bill passes in both, it is sent to the President.

The Governor The Governor has 4 options: Sign into law. Law without signature. (10 days then Law) Veto. Choose to not sign the bill, bill sent back to Congress and can pass with 2/3 vote. Pocket veto After 10 days without congress in session bill dies..

Guided Practice: Divide into two groups (House & Senate) Bill presented by me (committee) Bill= Fun Fridays House debates bill, adds any amendments and votes Senate debates bill, adds any amendments and votes Bill is sent to Governor (chosen at random) and passed

Assigned Homework: Investigate some of the problems of our current process of making a law. Create new ways to get a law passed in the Senate. Construct your own idea of what law you would like to make. Propose a new more efficient way to make a law. Debate about which current laws you view as more important than others.

Closure: What are some example of bills that are not appropriate for government involvement? What is the role of the Governor in the process? What type of vote is needed to pass a bill through congress?