1. How a Bill Becomes a Law

3. What is a Bill? A bill is a written idea for a law.
A bill can be started in either the HoR or Senate
Since both houses must agree to pass a bill, only 3% of all bills become laws

4. Types of Bills
Bill: proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration
Joint Resolution: Proposal for some action that has the force of law when passed
Concurrent Resolution: A statement of position on an issue, adopted by the House and Senate acting jointly
Does NOT have Force of Law
Does NOT require President’s signature
Resolution: A measure dealing with some matter in one house

5. Rider
Rider: Provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to an important bill to pass
Typically attached to Appropriations ($) Bills
Example: In 2010, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed to reform Health Care. A Rider for Student Loan Reform was attached to the Bill and therefore was also Passed.

6. Step 1: An Idea is Introduced
Given a title
Given a number
If it starts in the HoR, its title begins with H.R.
If it starts in the Senate, its title begins with S.
Idea is placed in the “hopper”
Clerk announces the Representative or Senator who proposed the bill
The bill gets its first reading in either the HoR or Senate

7. WHO Can Introduce a Bill IDEA?
Individual citizens (constituents) write to their Senator or Representative with an idea
That Senator or Representative takes it from there OR
Interest Group
A politician comes up with the idea themselves

8. Next Step: Sent to Committee
The fate of most bills is decided here
Types of committees:
Appropriations: Where money is spent
Budget: How money is spent
Armed Services: Defense, military
Labor: Working conditions
Foreign Affairs: Relations with other countries
Judiciary: Courts, impeachment

9. Committee Actions 3 Main Actions
Can be in (sub)committee for 6 months to a year
3 Main Actions
Yes to the Bill & Passed Along to House or Senate
May get “marked up” (amended-changed) & Passed Along
May end up in Committee for ever (Pigeonholed)
Discharge Petition: Procedure enabling members to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in committee onto the floor for consideration

10. Next Step: Floor Action
Debate the bill in the HoR and Senate
(Senate can filibuster at this point)
Filibuster: tactics aimed at defeating a bill by preventing a final vote
attempt to “talk a bill to death”
Cloture: procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate
Any Congressman can propose an amendment during this stage
Sometimes done simply to slow the process or kill the bill
Need a majority vote to add an amendment

11. Next Step: Conference Committee
If a House version and a Senate version pass Floor Debate
Sent to Conference Committee to revise the Bill
GOAL of Conference Committee:
Revise both versions of Bill and make 1 compromise Bill
Once Bill is revised, SAME version is sent to BOTH houses for a VOTE.

12. Next Step: Voting Before the voting can begin…
A quorum (majority) of Congress must be present
Time to Vote!!
“Recorded Vote” A button is pushed; their vote is displayed on screen
Constituents can see how their Representatives/Senators vote
A majority of members of both the HoR and Senate must agree to pass the bill

13. Last Step: Presidential Action
The President can do the following with a bill:
Sign it (Bill Becomes Law!)
Veto it (bill goes back to Congress)
Pocket Veto it (president does not act on the bill within 10 days)

14. If Bill is Vetoed by President
3 Options Congress can take:
Revise the bill to meet the President’s expectations or desires
Forget about the Bill, put back in hopper, try again later or next session
Attempt an override of the President’s Veto
Congress can override a veto with 2/3 majority vote in BOTH houses