How a Bill becomes a Law!

Types of Bills Bills Resolutions REMEMBER A BILL IS A LAW THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED AND MAY NEVER BE APPROVED. Bills Private Bills – A bill that concerns an individual or certain people and/or places. Public Bills – A bill that applie to the entire nation and are usually about taxation, civil rights, or national security. Resolutions Resolution – A formal statement approved by the legislature usually expressing opinions, creating committees, or authorizing ceremonies. Joint Resolutions – Can become law if approved by the President and focus on constitutional amendments, allocating money, or correcting bills already approved.

Write the Bill Why bills are written; Any Representative can write a bill and submit it to Clerk of the House or a Senator can simply announce it on the Senate floor Why bills are written; Address issues facing the country Address issues facing the representatives state or district Advance goals laid out in representatives platform they were elected on In response to their constituent's letters, emails, protests, etc. In response to special interest groups/lobbyists http://www.votesmart.org/issue_group.php Because they think it is a good idea REMEMBER – ANY BILL THAT SPENDS OR RAISES MONEY/TAXES MUST START IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Naming your Bill! After submitting a bill it is given a title and a number to identify it. Those submitted to the House are labeled with H.R. and a number and those submitted to the Senate are labeled with an S and a number S. 117

Committees NEXT THE BILL IS SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE THAT SEEMS BEST FIT TO DEAL WITH IT. There are committees in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. 17 committees in the Senate (not including Sub-Committees) http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/committees/d_three_sections_with_teasers/committees_home.htm 20 committees in the House or Representatives (not including Sub-Committees) http://www.house.gov/house/CommitteeWWW.shtml Majority party chairs the committee and has majority of members. Chair controls committee agenda.

Committee Actions Bill is introduced by anyone in the House or Senate and sent to appropriate committee. Chairperson decides which bills to research Submitted to sub-committee for research Public Hearing – Presentation of bill to committee for opinions. Mark-up Session – Amendments are introduced and accepted with majority vote. Majority Vote – Vote is taken to Report (submit the bill to House) or table it. (send it back for further discussions if deemed necessary) Clean Bill – New bill made including all of the amendments if too many to make bill unrecognizable. Committee Report – Report on the purpose and scope of the bill and the reason they feel it should be approved.

House of Representatives Rules Committee – Decides when bills will be discussed if ever Consideration – Debates between proponents and opponent of the bills reported House. Amendments – Can be introduced and voted on. Vote to Recommit – Sends bill back to the committee of origination. Final Passage Vote – Majority vote passes the bill onto the Senate. Without majority bill goes back to House debate for additional amendments or vote to recommit.

Majority vote approving Bill From a Bill To a Law Voted Down By Senate Majority vote approving Bill Presidential Veto (2/3 vote House and Senate to override) Majority vote approving Bill Becomes Law Presidential Approval Ruled Unconstitutional

Senate Consideration – Debates between proponents and opponent of the bills passed in the House. Amendments – Can be introduced and voted on. Any bills that are amended are sent back to the House for vote of approval Riders – Amendments unrelated to bill that may benefit constituents. Filibuster – Talking a bill to death until sponsor withdraws. Cloture – Limits discussion to one hour per Senator. Final Passage Vote – Majority vote passes the bill onto the President for signature into law or veto. Without majority bill goes back to Senate debate for additional amendments.

Majority vote approving Bill From a Bill To a Law Voted Down By Senate Majority vote approving Bill Presidential Veto (2/3 vote House and Senate to override) Majority vote approving Bill Becomes Law Presidential Approval Ruled Unconstitutional

Voting on the Bill When discussion is completed on a bill they may then vote on whether it should be sent to the other house or president for approval. Voice Vote– Those in favor say “Yea” and those opposed say “No” Standing Vote– Those in favor stand and then those opposed stand Electronic Vote – Has replaced these types in the House Roll-call Vote – Traditional voting system in Senate where names and votes are recorded.

The President Signs bill into law Allows to pass into law without signature If not signed or vetoed within 10 days it becomes a law Pocket Veto – If after 10 days the Congress is not in session then it is officially vetoed. Veto Sent back to House for revote or amendments 2/3 approval vote in House and Senate overrides presidential veto making it law.

Majority vote approving Bill From a Bill To a Law Voted Down By Senate Majority vote approving Bill Presidential Veto (2/3 vote House and Senate to override) Majority vote approving Bill Becomes Law Presidential Approval Ruled Unconstitutional

Supreme Court Rules on whether a law is constitutional Can also interpret laws without referring to congress Relies on other branches of government to enforce their rulings Can only decide on the constitutionality of a law if it is brought to the courts attention in a specific case.