Essential Question: How does a bill become a law? How a Bill Becomes a Law Essential Question: How does a bill become a law?

Learning Objectives I will… We will… CON 3.B explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy- making process Identify types of bills and resolutions Outline how a bill becomes a law Describe what happens to a bill after it is voted on by Congress

Types of Bills and Resolutions Private Bills A bill dealing with individual people or places Frequently involve claims against the government or an individual person’s immigration problem Make up few of the congressional bills

Types of Bills and Resolutions Public Bills A bill dealing with general matters and applying to the entire nation Address tax cuts, national health insurance, gun control, civil rights, abortion, etc. Make up majority of bills Usually controversial and covered heavily by the press

Resolutions What is a resolution? Policies on an unusual or temporary matter Range from expressing congressional opinion on an issues to commemorating an achievement

Resolutions Joint Resolution A resolution passed in the same form by both houses Has the force of law when signed by the president Often used to correct errors in earlier laws or appropriate money for a specific purpose Also used to propose constitutional amendments

Resolutions Simple Resolution A statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of Congress Ex. New rule or procedure Does not have the force of law; not sent to the president for signing

Resolutions Concurrent Resolution A resolution that covers matters requiring the action of the House and Senate but on which a law is not needed Ex. Setting a date of adjourning Congress Must be passed by both houses Does not have the force of law; not sent to the president for signing

Riders Rider A provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one covered in the bill Usually attached to bills that are likely to pass Sometimes presidents veto bills because of riders

Riders Christmas Tree Bills Lawmakers sometimes attach many riders to a bill Done to appease a variety of constituents

Checkpoint How do private bills and public bills differ? Which bills and resolutions are used to pass laws? Which are not? Why would someone attach a rider to a bill? Why would people oppose the use of riders?

Tracking Bills and Resolutions on the Internet congress.gov Search bills by number or subject Brief videos of the legislative process The Congressional Quarterly Private, non-profit company Publishes books, magazines, and newsletters about Congress

Tracking Bills and Resolutions on the Internet Roll Call Requires a subscription Provides news and commentary on whatever is happening on Capitol Hill

Introducing a Bill How Bills Are Introduced Ideas come from citizens, lobbyists, interest groups, or executive branch Drafted by legislators, their staffs, lawyers, or representative from interest group Member of Congress introduces bill by dropping it into hopper (box near clerk’s desk) Bill given title and number; printed and distributed

Introducing a Bill Committee Assignment Bills sent to appropriate committee Committee chairs send to subcommittee Committee can rewrite, amend, or approve as-is Most bills never make it out of committee

Committee Actions “Pigeonholding” Acting on a Bill Ignoring the bill or letting it “die Acting on a Bill Committee holds hearings and conducts research on the subject of the bill

Committee Actions Hearing Committee listens to testimony from experts, government officials, and interest groups Committee chairs can use hearings to influence public opinion or test political acceptability Best time for outside groups to influence a bill

Committee Actions Markup Session Committee meets to decide what changes, if any, are needed Majority vote of the committee required for all changes to the bill

Committee Actions Reporting a Bill Sending the bill to the full House or Senate for a vote Committee also sends a report explaining its actions (changes, opinions, etc.) Committee votes either to kill the bill or to report it

Checkpoint What steps must lawmakers take to introduce a bill? What is a congressional hearing? How are congressional hearings used by members of Congress?

Floor Action Debating Bills Amending Bills Lawmakers can debate pros and cons of a bill on the floor Most debate has already happened in committee Amending Bills Lawmakers can sometimes amend the bill during floor debate Opponents can propose amendments to slow the bill down or kill it

Floor Action Closed Rule Voting on Bills In the House, a rule can be adopted to prohibit amending a bill Voting on Bills A quorum (majority) of members must be present Passage of the bills requires majority vote of all members present

Floor Action Conference Committee Made up of members from both houses Identical bill must pass both houses in order to become law Work out the differences in between the two chambers Draft a final bill called a conference report to be sent to each house for a final vote

Final Steps President Signs the Bill President Vetoes the Bill The bill becomes law Presidents sign most bills President Vetoes the Bill President rejects the bill Bill returns to the chamber where it originated

Final Steps Pocket Veto President refuses to act on a bill during the last 10 days of a Congressional session, the bill dies If Congress is in session, bill becomes law after 10 days

Final Steps Congressional Override of a Veto 2/3 vote in both houses to override a veto Bill becomes law Congress seldom overrides a presidential veto

Final Steps Registering Laws Law is registered with the National Archives and Records Service Law is added to the U.S. Code of current federal laws

Checkpoint What is the process for debating, amending, and voting on bills on the floor? What are the final steps for a bill to become a law?