1. The Legislative Process
How a Bill becomes a Law

2. The Big Picture House Senate President
Out of about 5,000 bills introduced to Congress each year, only about 10-12% become a law.

3. Bill Introduction
The President, a member of Congress, an interest group, on an individual has an idea for a new law or a change to an existing law
Anyone can write a bill

4. Bill Sponsorship Only a member of Congress can sponsor a bill
Representatives usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents
Private Bill: affects a specific person, organization, or location
Public Bill: affects the general population or country at large

5. Bill in the Hopper
After the idea for a bill is developed and the text of the bill is written, a member of Congress must officially introduce the bill by dropping the bill into the hopper
The Hopper is where all bills are placed that are introduced into the House

6. Bill in the Committee
Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up). Committee may hold public (open to public) or private hearings (closed to public) on the bill.
Bill may be voted and approved and reported favorably
Bill may be amended or changed and reported favorably
Bill may be rejected, and reported negatively (do not pass)
A totally new bill may be reported
Bill may be stalled in the committee or Pigeonholed (filed a away and ignored)
Discharge Petition: may be used to get a bill stuck in the committee, taken out to the House floor for debate and vote (requires 218 signatures: majority of the full House)

7. Bill in Rules Committee
The Rules Committee controls the calendar for the House. They will determine if and when the bill will be considered (day) and how much time will be allowed for its debate.
“The Traffic Cop” of the House
Will also decide if the bill may be changed (amended) during debate (open rule, closed rule, restrictive rule)
The bill is sent to the House Floor for consideration

8. Floor Debate Floor actions begins and members debate the bill
Bill is given its 2nd reading
Quorum (218)
Committee of the Whole (100)
Due to the size of the House, debate time is strictly limited
Following debate, the House is ready to vote on the bill
Open Rule, Closed Rule, Restrictive Rule

9. Floor Vote Voice Vote Standing Vote Teller Vote Roll-Call Vote
Computerized Vote
Bill must receive a
majority to pass
Given 3rd and final
reading, and sent
to the Senate

10. Bill in Senate Committee
Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up). Committee may hold public (open to public) or private hearings (closed to public) on the bill.
Bill may voted and approved and reported favorably
Bill may be amended or changed and reported favorably
Bill may be rejected, and reported negatively (do not pass)
A totally new bill may be reported
Bill may be stalled in the committee or Pigeonholed (filed a away and ignored)

11. Majority Leader
If the bill survives the Senate Committee, it is presented to the Majority Leader who decides if or when to bring it to the floor for debate
Harry Reid (D-NV)

12. Senate Floor Debate No time limit for debate (Unlimited Debate)
Filibuster: “talk a bill to death” (stalling tactic) Senators try to monopolize the Senate floor to prevent action (voting) on a bill (stalling tactic used to prevent a vote)
Cloture Rule: 3/5 of the Senate (60 Senators) vote to invoke the rule. From that point, no more than 30 hours of floor time may be spent on that bill
Double-Tracking
Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
24 hours 18 minute Record Filibuster

13. Senate Floor Vote Senate does NOT have a computerized voting system
Senate will use roll call, teller, or voice vote
Bill must get a majority vote to pass
3rd and final reading if it passes
Vote Yes!
H.R. 101

14. Conference Committee
Joint committee formed by members of both the House and Senate (appointed by the Speaker and Pro Tempore)
Bill must pass the House and Senate in identical form
Conference committee will “iron out” any differences on the bill before going to the President
Conference Report: Must be voted on again by both chambers of Congress
Hey guys, work things out, I want to see the President!
H.R. 101

15. Bill with the President
President Has 3 Options: (has 10 days to act)
A. Sign the Bill
B. Veto the Bill
C. Do nothing at all

16. A. President Signs the Bill
Bill becomes a LAW!

17. President Obama signing H.R. 1 (Stimulus Bill)

18. Obama signs the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Law
I made it, I’m a LAW!
Law

19. B. President Veto’s the Bill
Rejects the bill and sends it back to Congress
Congress may override a veto by a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate

20. The Line-Item Veto
In 1996, Congress passed the Line-Item-Veto Act, which gave the President the power to veto individual items in spending bills without rejecting the entire bill
Clinton v. New York City (1998) In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court struck down the law as unconstitutional
If the President is going to have this power, it must come via a Constitutional Amendment (not by law)

21. C. President Does Nothing
If Congress stays in session, after 10 days the bill will automatically become a law
If Congress adjourns, after 10 days the bill will automatically die (Pocket Veto)
H.R. 101
Even if the President ignores me, I still may become a law!