1. Essential Question: How does a bill become a law?
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Essential Question: How does a bill become a law?

2. Learning Objectives I will… We will…
CON 3.B explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy- making process
Identify types of bills and resolutions
Outline how a bill becomes a law
Describe what happens to a bill after it is voted on by Congress

3. Types of Bills and Resolutions
Private Bills
A bill dealing with individual people or places
Frequently involve claims against the government or an individual person’s immigration problem
Make up few of the congressional bills

4. Types of Bills and Resolutions
Public Bills
A bill dealing with general matters and applying to the entire nation
Address tax cuts, national health insurance, gun control, civil rights, abortion, etc.
Make up majority of bills
Usually controversial and covered heavily by the press

5. Resolutions What is a resolution?
Policies on an unusual or temporary matter
Range from expressing congressional opinion on an issues to commemorating an achievement

6. Resolutions Joint Resolution
A resolution passed in the same form by both houses
Has the force of law when signed by the president
Often used to correct errors in earlier laws or appropriate money for a specific purpose
Also used to propose constitutional amendments

7. Resolutions Simple Resolution
A statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of Congress
Ex. New rule or procedure
Does not have the force of law; not sent to the president for signing

8. Resolutions Concurrent Resolution
A resolution that covers matters requiring the action of the House and Senate but on which a law is not needed
Ex. Setting a date of adjourning Congress
Must be passed by both houses
Does not have the force of law; not sent to the president for signing

9. Riders
Rider
A provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one covered in the bill
Usually attached to bills that are likely to pass
Sometimes presidents veto bills because of riders

10. Riders Christmas Tree Bills
Lawmakers sometimes attach many riders to a bill
Done to appease a variety of constituents

11. Checkpoint
How do private bills and public bills differ?
Which bills and resolutions are used to pass laws? Which are not?
Why would someone attach a rider to a bill?
Why would people oppose the use of riders?

12. Tracking Bills and Resolutions on the Internet
congress.gov
Search bills by number or subject
Brief videos of the legislative process
The Congressional Quarterly
Private, non-profit company
Publishes books, magazines, and newsletters about Congress

13. Tracking Bills and Resolutions on the Internet
Roll Call
Requires a subscription
Provides news and commentary on whatever is happening on Capitol Hill

14. Introducing a Bill How Bills Are Introduced
Ideas come from citizens, lobbyists, interest groups, or executive branch
Drafted by legislators, their staffs, lawyers, or representative from interest group
Member of Congress introduces bill by dropping it into hopper (box near clerk’s desk)
Bill given title and number; printed and distributed

15. Introducing a Bill Committee Assignment
Bills sent to appropriate committee
Committee chairs send to subcommittee
Committee can rewrite, amend, or approve as-is
Most bills never make it out of committee

16. Committee Actions “Pigeonholding” Acting on a Bill
Ignoring the bill or letting it “die
Acting on a Bill
Committee holds hearings and conducts research on the subject of the bill

17. Committee Actions Hearing
Committee listens to testimony from experts, government officials, and interest groups
Committee chairs can use hearings to influence public opinion or test political acceptability
Best time for outside groups to influence a bill

18. Committee Actions Markup Session
Committee meets to decide what changes, if any, are needed
Majority vote of the committee required for all changes to the bill

19. Committee Actions Reporting a Bill
Sending the bill to the full House or Senate for a vote
Committee also sends a report explaining its actions (changes, opinions, etc.)
Committee votes either to kill the bill or to report it

20. Checkpoint
What steps must lawmakers take to introduce a bill?
What is a congressional hearing?
How are congressional hearings used by members of Congress?

21. Floor Action Debating Bills Amending Bills
Lawmakers can debate pros and cons of a bill on the floor
Most debate has already happened in committee
Amending Bills
Lawmakers can sometimes amend the bill during floor debate
Opponents can propose amendments to slow the bill down or kill it

22. Floor Action Closed Rule Voting on Bills
In the House, a rule can be adopted to prohibit amending a bill
Voting on Bills
A quorum (majority) of members must be present
Passage of the bills requires majority vote of all members present

23. Floor Action Conference Committee Made up of members from both houses
Identical bill must pass both houses in order to become law
Work out the differences in between the two chambers
Draft a final bill called a conference report to be sent to each house for a final vote

24. Final Steps President Signs the Bill President Vetoes the Bill
The bill becomes law
Presidents sign most bills
President Vetoes the Bill
President rejects the bill
Bill returns to the chamber where it originated

25. Final Steps Pocket Veto
President refuses to act on a bill during the last 10 days of a Congressional session, the bill dies
If Congress is in session, bill becomes law after 10 days

26. Final Steps Congressional Override of a Veto
2/3 vote in both houses to override a veto
Bill becomes law
Congress seldom overrides a presidential veto

27. Final Steps Registering Laws
Law is registered with the National Archives and Records Service
Law is added to the U.S. Code of current federal laws

28. Checkpoint
What is the process for debating, amending, and voting on bills on the floor?
What are the final steps for a bill to become a law?