1. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Ch 12 Sec 3 & 4

2. QUORUM REQUIREMENT MAJORITY NEEDED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS HOUSE : 218
SENATE : 51
MACE RAISED (House Only)

3. BILL IS INTRODUCED PLACED IN THE HOPPER IN THE HOUSE
VERBALLY INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE

4. BILL IS DRAWN OUT AND RECEIVES:
A) “FIRST READING” – SUMMARY OF CONTENT
B) NUMBER AND TITLE (I.E. “HR.123” OR “S. 45”)

5. BILL IS REFERRED TO PROPER COMMITTEE
BOTH HOUSES HAVE 4 COMMITTEES:
STANDING (PERMANENT – ARMED SERVICES, FOREIGN RELATIONS, FINANCE)
SELECT (TEMPORARY – INVESTIGATE MATTERS THAT ATTRACT ATTENTION – ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION)
CONFERENCE (COMPROMISE ON THE BILL AFTER IT GOES THROUGH EACH HOUSE) MEMBERS FROM BOTH
JOINT ( INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, DO NOT PROPOSE LEGISLATION) MEMBERS FROM BOTH

6. COMMITTEE ACTION (BILL IS MARKED UP)
A) MOST BILLS ARE PIGEON-HOLED (90%)
B) HEARINGS MAY BE SCHEDULED
WITNESSES MAY BE CALLED
HOW WILL THIS HURT/HELP
C) COMMITTEE MAY AMEND THE BILL
D) COMMITTEE MAY REWRITE BILL
E) COMMITTEE MAY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE BILL

7. RULES COMMITTEE (LESS POWER IN SENATE)
ATTACH SPECIAL RULES TO THE BILL
TIME LIMITS
VOTING METHODS
SCHEDULES BILL FOR CONSIDERATION
PLACE IT ON A CALENDAR

8. FLOOR ACTION DEBATE LIMITED IN THE HOUSE UNLIMITED IN THE SENATE
A) COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (MACE LOWERED)
1) QUORUM = 100
2) SECOND READING TAKES PLACE
B) FORMAL DEBATE HELD
* THIRD READING
* MACE RAISED

9. VOTING (p.340) VOICE VOTE (AYES AND NAYES) STANDING VOTE
TELLER VOTE (USED ONLY IN HOUSE; RARELY)
RECORDED OR ROLL CALL

10. SENATE DIFFERENCES NO MACE
INTRODUCTION OF BILL BY SENATOR – “SHOW AND TELL”
RULES COMMITTEE HAS NO POWER TO ATTACH SPECIAL RULES
NO LIMIT ON DEBATE (FILIBUSTER)
NO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
NO TELLER VOTES TAKEN
VOTING IS VERBALLY DONE (ROLL CALL IS FINAL VOTE)

11. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MAY BE NECESSARY IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES
COMPROMISE
BILLS THAT MAKE IT THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE USUALLY PASSES BOTH HOUSES

12. RE-PASSAGE THROUGH BOTH HOUSES WITHOUT ANY CHANGES

13. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION SIGN IT
VETO IT – CAN BE OVER-RIDDEN WITH 2/3 MAJORITY VOTE (must explain why)
LEAVE IT ON DESK – AFTER 10 DAYS IT AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES LAW
POCKET VETO – CONGRESS ADJOURNS DURING THE 10 DAYS THE BILL IS ON THE DESK – IT DOES NOT BECOME A LAW (NO 2/3)

14. I’M JUST A BILL
SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK