1. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW By Mr. Safier Team 6

2. Step One - Origin  All bills start as ideas  They can be created by anyone…a representative, the president, special interest groups (lobbyists), and even YOU!!!  Once written, the bill enters one or both houses of Congress (Senate or House of Representatives)

3. Step Two - Committees  10,000 bills are introduced every year  Approximately 150 become a law each year  After a bill gets into one of the houses (Senate/House of Representatives) it is given to a Standing (permanent) Committee

4. Step Three - Hearings SStanding Committees pass the bill to Sub- Committees (lower committees) SSub–Committee’s listen to experts and interested parties, which speak for or against the bill AAfter hearing all the points of view the Sub– Committees can recommend the bill to a Full Committee

5. Step Four – Committee Action Full Committees can: 1. Approve 2. Re-write and Approve 3. Amend (change) and Approve 4. Reject the bill

6. Step Five – Congressional Action  The bill is then debated in the house of origin and perhaps amended  If passed, the bill moves to the other house of Congress and repeats steps 1-4 Example: If the bill starts in the House then it moves to the Senate

7. Step Six – Executive Action When Congress approves the bill  TThe President may: 1. Sign the bill, making it a law 2. Veto the bill 3. Pocket Veto - Hold the bill without signing  bill becomes a law within 10 days if congress is in session and expires if congress leaves before the 10 days

8. Step Seven – Judicial Action…If Needed IIf the law does not obey the rules of the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional IIf the Supreme Court Okays the bill it becomes a LAW