1. The Legislative Process
How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. Introducing Legislation
Bills: proposed laws
All “money bills” must be introduced in the House
After a bill has been introduced, it is then assigned to a committee by the Speaker of the House

3. Committees
Groups of representatives who focus on a certain area of policymaking
Are found in both the House and the Senate
Standing Committees
permanent bodies that have expertise about certain policy areas
these are the most important committees

4. Committees
House Rules Committee: defines the conditions under which the bills are to be considered by the House
Conference Committee: temporary joint committee created to form a compromise between any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill
Goal: to pass identical bills in both the House and the Senate

5. Special Procedures in the Senate
A senator can talk about anything he or she wants to
Filibuster: a stalling tactic in which 1 senator spends a lot of time talking in order to prevent a bill from being voted on
Cloture
Can be called with support of at least 16 Senators
If 60 or more Senators vote in favor of the motion, debate ends and the Senate votes on the bill being considered

6. Becoming Law
Once the House and Senate have agreed on a final version of a bill, it is then sent to the President
The President can sign the bill, officially making it a law, or veto it
After the President uses a veto on a bill, Congress can override it with a 2/3s vote in both the House and the Senate to make the bill a law