How A Bill Becomes A Law Review & Activities

Bicameral Brainstorm Review of Legislative Branch

house of representatives Bicameral Brainstorm What do you already know about the United States Congress? Hints: Size of house, who works there, term, etc.? Senate house of representatives Both

Legislating legislators in the legislature… Review of How A Bill Becomes A Law

The Lawmaking Process A bill starts as idea(s) from a variety of sources. Citizen letters and email Interest groups Challenges facing the nation Research on issues

The Lawmaking Process A bill can start in either chamber of Congress, but let’s have ours start in the Senate! Step One: The Proposal Once a lawmaker gets an idea for a bill, he/she will write up a proposal and work to get support from others in the Senate. Step Two: The Introduction The bill is assigned a number and is read aloud to the other Senators. Then it is sent to a committee for a close review. S.357

The Lawmaking Process Step Three: The Bill is assigned to a committee within the Senate to discuss & debate. Step Four: The Bill will then go to the whole Senate for discussion, debate & vote. The Vote: The whole Senate is called to vote on the bill. They can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on that particular bill). The Report: If the committee likes it, it will be sent to the to the whole Senate for debate. The Floor Debate: All of the Senators get a chance to read the bill and debate whether it should be supported or opposed. The bill is read again and changes are suggested. Senate Vote on S.357 59 Yeas 39 Nay 2 Present

We need to change that part… S.357 The Lawmaking Process Step Five: If the vote passes the Senate, it will go to the House of Representatives. Here it goes through the same debate, changes are made and then another vote is held before it can move on. No way! Love it. House Vote on S.357 227 Yeas 203 Nay 5 Present We need to change that part…

The Lawmaking Process New Law Step Six - Conference Committee: If the bill passes both houses, the final stop before the President will be a Conference Committee to reconcile any differences, New Law Step Seven - The President: If both chambers of Congress approve, the bill lands on the president’s desk. If it is signed, it becomes a law. If it is vetoed, it doesn’t.* *Congress can override a veto if there are enough votes (2/3 of Congress) to do so. The president can also ignore the bill. If a bill is ignored while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes a law after ten days. If Congress is not in session, it doesn't.

A Tale of Two Bills Creating Your Own Bill

Check out the two energy bills below Check out the two energy bills below. One originated in the Senate and the other is the version approved in the House. Find the common ground and get one bill to send to the president. H.R.422 S.357 Increase funding for alternative energy research Invest in domestic oil drilling operations Provide a $1,000 tax credit to electric vehicle buyers Cut funding to alternative energy research Lower pollution rates of cars and trucks by 5% in 5 years Provide a $500 tax credit to electric vehicle buyers Read through each bill, then ask students to note the ones that can be considered common ground. Provide a tax credit to electric vehicle buyers (discuss difference in $ amount, split the difference, go with the lower/ higher number?) Lower pollution rates of cars and trucks (discuss if they should go with more or less details) Award innovations in new energy source development Lower Pollution rates of cars and trucks

Based on the common ground you found in the Senate and House version of the bill, make a compromise version. You need to have at least two items in the bill. Compromise Bill

Now that you know how a bill becomes a law… can you pass one of your own?