1. How does a bill become law?
Public Policy & the Environment
ENV 2011
Credit to Mara Smith for this helpful summary

2. Learning Objectives Understand the process
Identify challenges and influences
Relate to previous material

3. What is a bill? A legislation proposal.
But when passed by the House and the Senate and approved by President
BillLaw

4. The Bill to Law Process
Legislation is drafted and introduced to House & Senate
Bill moves to appropriate committee
revisions, additions and a report
Floor- 2nd reading, reported out of committee
Open debate & negotiation
3rd reading- must vote

5. The Bill to Law Process Con’t
Conference Committee
Senior members from each house
Work out differences and prepare written report
Report must be approved by House and Senate
The President
Sign- signing statement
Veto
Pocket Veto

7. Challenges & Influences
Is this process efficient?
Bias; what power does the majority party hold? What power does the minority party hold?
What is the check on process?
President- ability to influence interpretation of bill

8. How does this relate to previous material?
Policy Making Process (O’Connor & Sabato)
Issue Attention Cycle (Downs)
Diffusion of Power