How a Bill Becomes Law Class Lecture

BILL IS INTRODUCED BY A GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BILL IS SENT TO COMMITTEE FOR STUDY. COMMITTEE MAY RECOMMEND BILL BE PASSED WITH CHANGES. COMMITTEE MAY RECOMMEND BILL NOT TO BE PASSED. COMMITTEE MAY REFUSE TO RELEASE THE BILL TO THE HOUSE. BILL IS SENT TO ONE HOUSE; BILL IS DEBATED; MAY BE AMENDED. HOUSE MAY REFUSE TO PASS THE BILL. HOUSE MAY PASS THE BILL WITH A MAJORITY VOTE. BILL GOES TO OTHER HOUSE FOR THE SAME PROCESS; IF PASSED, IT IS SIGNED BY OFFICIALS IN BOTH HOUSES. BILL GOES TO THE GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL INTO LAW GOVERNOR MAY VETO THE BILL. MAJORITY VOTE (2/3) IN THE GGA CAN OVERRIDE THE VETO

Step 1 Proposal submitted to the Legislative Clerk.

Step 2 Copies of bill given to legislators (either the House or Senate).

Step 3 Bill assigned to committee.

Step 4 Committee considers bill and may hold public meetings.

Step 5 Bill voted out of committee and sent to chamber (House or Senate).

Step 6 Legislators debate bill, may make changes, and vote on passage.

Step 7 Certified bill is sent to other chamber (Senate or House) for consideration.

Step 8 Bill is assigned to committee.

Step 9 Bill voted out of committee and sent to the other chamber.

Step 10 Legislators debate bill, may make changes, and vote on passage.

Step 11 If passed in the same form, the bill is sent to the executive.

Step 12 Executive may sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature.

Step 13 If vetoed, the legislature may, by two thirds vote of each house, override the veto and the bill becomes law.

Step 14 Laws are often challenged by the public in a court of law. If a law is reviewed by the Supreme Court, it is determined to be Constitutional or Unconstitutional. 1. Constitutional- A law worthy of becoming a part of the Constitution. 2. Unconstitutional- A law not worthy to become a part of the Constitution.

Making a Law: (The Steps) A Student Handout 1. Proposal submitted to the Legislative Clerk. 2. Copies of bill given to legislators (either the House or Senate). 3. Bill assigned to committee. 4. Committee considers bill and may hold public meetings. 5. Bill voted out of committee and sent to chamber (House or Senate). 6. Legislators debate bill, may make changes, and vote on passage. 7. Certified bill is sent to other chamber (Senate or House) for consideration Process repeats in the other chamber (either the Senate or House) 11. If passed in the same form, the bill is sent to the executive. 12. Executive may sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. 13. If vetoed, the legislature may, by two thirds vote of each house, override the veto and the bill becomes law. 14. Judicial Review- If a law is reviewed by the Supreme Court, it is determined to be Constitutional or Unconstitutional.

Assignment: Review Quick Quiz (Write only the answers) 1.What state official is president of the Georgia Senate? 2.What does the president pro tempore do? 3.What do committees do? 4.Who appoints committee members in the House of Representatives? 5.Name the committee that would deal with money issues. T or F 1.The Governor introduces bills to the General Assembly. 2.Committees study bills before sending them for a vote. 3.Committees can recommend that bills be passed with changes. 4.Amendments are added in committees. 5.If a bill passes in one house, it does not have to go through the same process in the other house. 6.If the Governor vetoes a bill, it is finished