The Legislation Process Step one: build interest in your bill by appealing to different organizations Interest groups are organizations that share a common political goal and work to influence public policy. An example: The American Association of Retired People (AARP) Jobs: represent the interests of their organization in Congress, educate both Congress and the public on issues, and they provide a way for citizens to get involved in the political process

Political Actions Committees (PACs) PACs are organizations similar to special interest groups; their only job is to collect and distribute money for the candidate or causes they support. A large chunk of the money raised in political campaigns comes from PACs PACs are often formed by businesses or large companies in order to sponsor legislation that would benefit them

Lobbying Lobbyists are groups of people who campaign for and “sell” the legislation to Congress Some duties of lobbyists include meeting with politicians, educating the public, contributing money to campaigns, identifying supporters of the legislation or bill, and researching the issues

An example… Imagine your community has placed a ban on skateboarding; there is no skateboarding allowed anywhere in the city. Skateboarders want to fight to have the ban lifted. Could skateboarders, on their own, influence the community to change the policy? Why or why not? What could skateboarders in the community do to change the policy? What other groups might want to join the skateboarders in their cause? What groups might support legislation to improve conditions for skateboarders?

OK, so Congress agrees to hear your bill…now what? The next step in the legislation process is the introduction of the bill in either the House or the Senate. Every bill that is introduced is sponsored by a member of Congress Bills are given a number and then begin a loooooong journey that may end with a new law Of the approximately 10,000 pieces of legislation introduced in Congress each year, only 300 make it to the President to be signed, and even fewer actually make it to law.

The Path to get to the President

Bill process key terms Filibuster: the practice in the Senate of allowing unlimited debate in order to prevent or delay a vote on a bill. During a filibuster, you do not even have to talk about the issue at hand; some have lasted several days, with senators “tag-teaming” the filibuster. Cloture: a vote to end a Senate filibuster, which requires a three-fifths majority (sixty votes)

More terms Veto: the power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress Veto override: the power of congress to reject a president’s veto by a two-thirds majority in both houses. Pocket veto- President Holds on to the bill for 10 days- if Congress is still in session it becomes a law; if Congress is out of session it is dead. Rider- An addition to a bill that is not related to the subject (can be used to help legislation or hurt railroad legislation)

My bill died…now what can I do? State alternatives: voters can petition to get the measure on a state referendum or initiative and vote directly on the issue themselves. Judicial route: take it to the courts Change the constitution: 2/3 of BOTH the House and the Senate must deem it necessary; ¾ of all states must approve the change Executive order: the president can clarify a law set by Congress. Example: President Clinton passed an executive order regarding homosexuals in the military (“don’t ask, don’t tell” policy)