How a bill becomes a law? MEMORIES!!!! American Gov’t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1CIWwu6KdQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFRP67sX8o MEMORIES!!!!

I. Turning your idea into a law… During any session of congress there may be as many as 10,000 “ideas” introduced – less than 10% of these ever become a law. Bill - A proposed law presented to the House OR Senate for consideration One Exception: Revenue bills ($$ Legislations) ALWAYS starts in the House of Representatives…Art. 1, Sec. 7, Cl. 1

II. Source of Bills Most start in the Executive Branch Special Interest Groups Business Labor Agriculture Private Citizens – ME & YOU Congressional Standing Committees

Attached unrelated matter RIDER: Attached unrelated matter III. Types of Bills Public Bills – measures that apply to the Nation as a whole Example: Tax Laws or Amendments to the Constitution, etc. Private Bills – Apply to certain people or places Example: Sheep rancher in Idaho or dealing with the NFL veterans

Resolutions! Know for AP Exam! Congress may also pass these to deal w/unusual or temporary matters: Resolution (simple): covers matters affecting only one house (ex. New rule/procedure) Joint Resolution: when both houses pass & requires Pres. Signature (ex. correct error in earlier law, appropriate money, Constitutional Amendment) Concurrent Resolution: covers matters requiring the action of both houses (set date for adjournment, or express Congress’s opinion about an issue) Riders: a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the bill (ex. Unrelated projects or money for home district or a something necessary for district, usually attached to bills likely to pass).

Checkpoint What is a BILL? What is the only body that can bring up a bill regarding money? Where are some of the places that a bill can come from?

Intro in the House (read & numbered) Public Hearings if needed Intro in the Senate Public Hearings if needed Standing Committee Standing Committee Subcommittee Subcommittee Floor Debate & Vote Floor Debate & Vote Conference Committee 2/3s Congressional Vote LAW President VETO!

IV. Introduction of a Bill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DSruRQ2MNs In House of Representatives: Bill given to Representative (District #6, Tom Price), he introduces it, sticks it in a Hopper, eventually taken out, given an HRB# and sent off to appropriate Standing Committee In Senate: bill given to Senator (David Perdue or Jonnie I.) , he introduces it by reading to whole Senate, then given SB# & sent off to appropriate Senate Standing Committee

V. In Committee! In Committee the bill is studied (placed on committee calendar)assigned to a sub- committee for hearings and revisions then reported by Standing committee (they may recommend passage or kill the bill) Rules committee sets rules for when to go to floor, how long to debate, and possible amendments by whole House or Senate! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsyXz1qv8I

Committee cont.… Know for AP Exam! Staff members that help Congress: Over 2000 employees make up Congressional staff Often help out with writing of bills, research & keep tabs on activities of Executive branch: There are also Staff agencies that help out: Congressional Research Service (CRS): provides info. and non partisan studies, they are highly specialized Government Accountability Office (GAO): performs oversight functions making sure intent of law being followed and its efficiency & effectiveness Congressional Budget Office (CBO): analyzes Pres. Budget, makes projections about economy, cost of proposed policies, economic effects of taxing & spending

VI. Committee Actions Report the bill favorably “Do-Pass” – THEY LIKED IT Refuse to report the bill “Pigeonhole” – LET IT DIE Report the bill in amended form “Amended” – CHANGED IT A LITTLE Report a committee bill “New Stuff” – MADE THEIR OWN 5) Report the bill with unfavorable recommendation “No-Pass” – HATED IT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCFf3o4bhgs

VII. House Actions Debate – discuss the issues (findings that the Committees and Subcommittees came up with) Committee of the Whole – Speeds up the process; the entire House acts as a committee rather than a legislative body Quorum – needed to discuss bills, it means a “majority” of the members must be there

House Actions After the debate then they: Vote Types of voting Voice Vote – most common Standing Vote – self-explanatory Teller Vote – Selected members count their party’s vote Roll-Call Vote – this is now done with computers Positions on vote: Trustee: Rep/Sen wants constituents to trust how they vote (foreign relations) Politico: Rep/Sen votes along w/their party ( when not really their area of knowledge) Delegate: Rep/Sen votes the way state or district (Constituents) wants them to vote (Usually Domestic/social matters)

Final Step The Bill is read for a 3rd and final time One last vote / opportunity for debate Signed by Speaker Sent to Senate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hfhIaeb4CM What does “pigeonhole” mean?

The Next Step… The Bill will then go to the Senate…here the process is very similar to the path of a bill in the House.

The main difference in the Senate Debate House: Formal Senate: Informal (Free Debate) Filibuster Is a part of the debating process “Talking a bill to death” Used by “minority” senators to delay or prevent a bill from going further Monopolizes the Floor Debate Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCfGO_V37A (LOC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX8aFpnWxPA (MR)

VIII. Conference Committee Rarely can a bill make it thru all of these steps with out some problem… This is where a Conference Committee comes in handy… Members from both chambers come together (temporarily) to make any changes that BOTH can agree upon. Then they re-vote (almost always passes) Sent to the President for acceptance or rejection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOjJB8SAwcc COMPROMISE

IX. Presidential Actions 1) Sign into Law 2) Veto – Means “I forbid” in Latin Can be overridden with 2/3s vote of Congress (over-ride? Maybe!) 3) Do nothing (Pocket Pass) – 10 days go by, congress still in session then it becomes a law 4) Pocket Veto – If Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill, the President can do nothing, the bill dies! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XR8mqqfYs (LOC) http://youtu.be/4PENol9JJ9U (bill signing ceremony)