1. How a Bill becomes a Law

2. Introduction of a Bill: The House
A bill is proposed to either house: House or Senate
Most bills are born in the executive branch
Business, labor, agriculture, and other special interest groups often draft measures as well
Private Citizens
Born in Standing Committees
Only MEMBERS of Congress can introduce bills in the House
Put in the “Hopper”

3. The First Reading
The Clerk of the House numbers each bill as it is introduced
Clerk gives each bill a short title and brief summary
Entered into House journal
Copied and distributed to members
After the first reading the Speaker of the House refers the bill to the appropriate standing committee
Sent to the committee with jurisdiction over the bill

4. The Bill is Assigned to Committee
There are different standing committees
Majority: Chairman
Minority: Ranking Member
Pigeonholed:
Bill dies in committee
A discharge petition enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee 30 days onto the floor for consideration
Committee Options:
Report the bill favorably
Refuse to report the bill – pigeonhole
Report bill in amended (edit) form
Report the bill with unfavorable recommendation
Report a committee bill

5. Schedule Floor Debate
Before the bill goes to the floor it must be placed on a Calendar.
Union Calendar
House Calendar
Private Calendar
Corrections Calendar
Discharge Calendar
Different days to debate on bills in these various calendars
Rule:
Rules Committee must grant a rule before most bills can in fact reach the floor
Schedule the debate and how long debate can last
By not granting a rule for the bill the Rules Committee can kill the bill

6. The Bill on the Floor
Committee of the Whole: is a committee of the whole house to hear and report on the bill
Hears the bill for the second reading
Debate:
Rules Committee: puts bills on the Calendar and sets up terms of debate
At any time, a member may “move the previous question”
Call for a vote
Only 40min more to debate after that motion passes

7. Voting: 1. Voice Votes 2. Standing Vote 3. Teller Vote
4. Roll-call vote: electronic

8. Final Steps: Engrossed: The bill is printed in its final format
Third reading
Final vote is taken
Speaker of the House signs the bill
A legislative aide then carries it to the senate and places it on the Senate President’s desk

9. The Bill goes to the Senate
Bill is given a number
S for the Senate, H for the House
The bill is sent to the appropriate Standing Committee
It can be amended, pigeonholed, or sent to the floor
Only one calendar
Bills called to the floor by the majority floor leader
Bills are debated and voted on in the Senate

10. Rules for Debate Debate almost unrestrained in the Senate
“two-speech rule”
No Senator may speak more than twice on a give question on the same legislative day.
Days can be extended
Filibuster
An attempt to talk a bill to death
A stalling tactic, prevent Senate action on a measure
Cloture Rule
Vote taken 2 days after the petitions is taken to end filibuster
If at least 60 vote for the potion it passes
At that point, no more then 30 hours can be spend on that measure

11. Conference Committee
A majority in both houses is needed to pass a bill
218 needed to control the House
60 needed to control the Senate
Used when both houses pass a different version of the bill
Differences must be amended
The committee negotiates and compromises
Once the committee agrees the compromise bill is submitted to both houses
Rarely questioned

12. The President Acts 1. President may sign the bill
2. May veto, then return to the original house with the President’s objections
Pass by 2/3 vote to override the veto
3. Allow to become law by not acting on it within 10 days of receiving it
4. Pocket Veto: if Congress adjourns its session within 10 days and the President does not act, the bill dies

13. The Bill becomes law
If the president vetos the bill, Congress can reconsider the bill
2/3 of both houses are needed to override the President’s veto
If the president signs the bill it is a law the at each citizen must follow