1. The Legislative Process
How a bill becomes a law?
The Legislative Process

2. What is a Bill? Bill = A proposed law
Where does the idea come from?
Executive Branch, Special Interest Groups, or citizens. However, only a member of Congress may introduce the idea in the form of a bill.

3. Special Interest Groups
Groups of people who are passionate about certain topics.
Gain support through community, social media, extreme measures, etc
Animal Rights, Pollution, Civil Rights, Abortion, Gay Marriage, etc
Can greatly influence laws through petitions and pressure.

4. Lobbyist Lobbyist work for the people of their district and state.
They communicate w/Congress on what the people want
Called “lobbying” when they push for ideas
Very strict laws concerning lobbying
Grade Congress members on well they listen to the people
Play a huge role, because if a Congress member doesn’t work well with lobbyist, they will report that back to the people

5. Vocab Terms that will help us out
Committee (full standing) – A group within Congress assigned to work on specific topics
Each house has certain committees
Ex: Education – Transportation – War/Defense – Appropriations (spending) –and more
Subcommittee – A smaller version of the Full Committee. Usually 3-5 people who work on a specific bill within their topic area
Full House or Full Senate – when a bill is introduced or debated in front of everyone in that house (or everyone present). Meaning they are no longer just discussing it with the committees

6. The House of Representatives
A bill can originate in EITHER house.
Step 1 : A bill is introduced and assigned to a specific Full Standing Committee –The Full Committee then refers the bill to a smaller Subcommittee.
Step 2 :The Subcommittee makes changes, marks-up the paper, debates, and votes for it to go the Full Committee for a vote.

7. The House of Representatives
Step 3 in the House: The Full Committee then votes to approve the Bill. If it passes it moves to the next step, if not it dies (or goes back).
Step 4 in the House: THIS IS THE ONLY STEP THAT DIFFERS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE!!! The Senate DOES NOT take this step.
The Bill is given to a Rules Committee, they set up guidelines for debating the topic when it goes to the Full House of Representatives (necessary b/c the # is so high in the House).

8. The House of Representatives
Step 5 in the House: The Bill is introduced to the Full House (all members) for debate. If it is approved with NO changes (if it started in the Senate), then it moves to next step for vote.

9. Conference Committee See senate side box 5 to place this definition
If the version changed from the version passed in the Senate, it must go to a Conference committee before the Full House can vote- both houses meet to discuss and reconcile different versions.

10. The House of Representatives
Step 6 of the House: The entire House votes to pass the Bill. If it passes it moves on, if not it dies. Step 6 only occurs if they had to have a conference committee to make changes.

11. The Senate Steps 1-3 are the same as the House
Step 4 of the Senate: Full Senate meets to debate. The Senate does NOT set rules for debate, they can discuss the bill as long as they want “filibuster”
Step 5 of the Senate: The bill goes to the Full Senate for a vote. If it passes it moves on, if not it dies.

12. What happens next? BOTH houses must have the same version!
If the bill passes through both houses does it then become a law?
NO- it then goes to the President
Final Step for the Bill: The president has three options 1. Sign it = becomes law 2. Veto = does not become law (Congress can override with a 2/3 vote) 3. Ignore = if the bill is ignored for 10 days, it will become law