1. Making Law: The House
Chapter 12
Section 3

2. Key Terms Bill Joint Resolution Concurrent Resolution Resolution Rider
Pigeonhole
Discharge petition
Quorum
Engrossed

3. The First Steps
Bill-is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.
Most bills do not originate in Congress
Most of the important bill come from the executive branch

4. The First steps
Business, labor, agriculture and other special interest groups
Some bill come from private citizens who think
“there ought to be a law”

5. The First Steps Before introduction letter is circulated
Explains why the sponsor thinks t is important
Tries to get several co-sponsors
Increases chance of passage

6. Types of Bills and Resolutions
There are two types of bills
Public-apply to the nation as a whole (taxes)
Private-apply to certain persons or places (helping farmers)

7. Joint Resolution
Joint resolution-are similar to bills when passed have the force of law
Usually deal with temporary matters
Used to propose constitutional amendments
To annex territories

8. Concurrent Resolutions
Deal with matter that the House and Senate must act on jointly
Do not have the force of law
Do not require a presidents signature
Used to state a position on some matter (foreign affairs)

9. Resolution
Called simple resolutions deal with matters concerning the House alone
Used for adoption of a new rule
Have no force of law
Do not require a presidents signature

10. Resolution
Unusually deals with a single subject
Sometimes a rider is included
Rider-is a provision not likely to pass on its own is attached to an important matter
Hope they will ride through the process

11. Resolution Most riders are attached onto appropriations bills
Money bills have some many riders they are called Christmas trees
Opponents and president are forced to sign

12. Introduction and First Reading
Originating in the House it has an H in front of the number
Originating from the Senate it has an S
Each bill has a sheet title (brief description)
Entered into House Journal and Congressional Record

13. Introduction and First Reading
Journal contains the minutes and official proceedings in Congress
Members have five days to change
Change inaccurate or thoughtless remarks
Insert speeches
This is first reading

14. Introduction and First Reading
All bills are printed after intro and passed out to House members
Each bill passed has three readings
Second reading come during floor consideration

15. Introduction and First Reading
Third reading takes place before the final vote.
Each reading is usually by number and title
Important or controversial bills are read in full and taken line for line

16. Introduction and First Reading
Three readings ancient parliamentary practice
Intended to ensure careful consideration
Today just a way station along their route
Important in early days when some members could not read

17. Introduction and First Reading
After first reading the Speaker refers it to appropriate standing committee
Bills content determines where it goes
If issues are complex it could given to one of several committees

18. The Bill in Committee Constitution makes no mention of committees
Are absolutely essential
Sometimes called little legislatures

19. The Bill in Committee
Standing committees are sieves that sift through all the bills
Most are rejected
Fate of most bills decided in committee

20. The Bill in Committee Pigeonholed-they are buried and die in committee
Sometime the committee buries a bill of the majority
Can be brought out by a discharge petition

21. The Bill in Committee
Discharge position- force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration

22. The Bill in Committee
If motion is signed by 218 house members the House has 7 days to report the bill
If not the person who signed the bill on the second and fourth Monday can move to discharge the bill

23. The Bill in Committee
Last successful in 2002 in Bipartisan Campaign Reform act of 2002
The House leadership had buried it for years
First change in campaign law in 23 years

24. The Committee at Work
Chairman refers it to one of several subcommittees
Hold hearings
People invited to testify
Committee can issue a subpoena
Can force witness to testify

25. The Committee at Work Sometimes these committees make trips
People criticize the expense of the trips
On the spot investigation is crucial to the committee

26. Committee Actions
When subcommittee is done it goes to the full committee
May report on the bill favorably
Chairmen’s job to steer it through floor debate

27. Committee Action Refuse to report that bill (pigeonhole)
Report on the bill in amended form
Changed in committee
Several similar bill are combined

28. Committee Action Report the bill with unfavorable recommendation
Gives House the chance to consider the bill
Do not want to be responsible for killing it
Report a bill to committee
New bill substituted for on of several bills referred

29. Scheduling Floor Debate
Calendars there are five
Union Calendar
House Calendar
Private Calendar
Corrections Calendar
Discharge Calendar

30. Scheduling Floor Debate
Bills are taken from these calendars
Corrections calendars are considered on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month

31. Scheduling Floor Debate
On Calendar “Wednesdays” committee chairmen may call a bill from the Union Calendar

32. Rules Rules Committee plays a critical role in the legislative process
Can set rules for how House members may consider a bill

33. Rules
Rules committee must approve a time for its appearance on the floor.
By not granting the rule, the Rules committee kills the bill

34. Rules Certain bills are privileged
Appropriations bills, general revenue (tax bills)
Conference committee reports
Certain days House may suspend all rules

35. The Bill on the Floor
Receives a second reading when it reaches the floor
Committee of the whole includes all members of the House as one committee
Speaker steps down led by a member

36. The Bill on the Floor
A quorum must be present for the house to do business
Quorum-is a majority of the full membership (in the House 218 members)

37. Debate House has imposed limits on debate
In 1842 rule developed that no one could hold the floor longer than 1 hour
Speaker can force you to give up the floor

38. Debate
Majority and minority floor leaders decide how to split floor time
A member can demand a vote at any time
If motion is adopted debate ends
Up and down vote is then taken

39. Voting Can be subject to several votes
House uses four different methods for taking a floor vote

40. Voting Voice votes are the most common. Speaker calls for yea or nay
If a member thinks the speaker erred in a voice vote they can demand a standing vote

41. Voting Teller vote- 1/5 quorum in house
Speaker names tellers and they collect the votes
A roll call vote-vote of record can be done if 1/5 request it

42. Voting Since 1973 done by computer Vote yea, nay, present
A large board above the speakers head show the voting

43. Final steps in the House
Engrossed-once a bill has been approved at second reading or printed in final form
Read for third time
Vote is taken
Speaker signs it and it it taken to the Senate