Attention Congress—this is what you’re supposed to be doing! THE LAWMAKING PROCESS Attention Congress—this is what you’re supposed to be doing!

Overview / review How a Bill Becomes a Law Flowchart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag How a Bill Becomes a Law Flowchart

Bills Basics A bill is a proposed law. A bill would either create an entirely new law, or amend an existing law. Congress can also pass resolutions that deal with unusual or temporary matters. Earmarks deal with money in a bill. An earmark designates money to go towards a certain purpose. Sometimes, riders are attached to bills. A rider deals with a topic other than what the main purpose of the bill is supposed to be.

Why do so few bills become laws? Fewer than 10% of proposed bills become laws. Reasons for this include: The complicated lawmaking process. Compromise is the only way to get a bill moved from one step to the next. A bill’s opponents have many opportunities to kill it. Bills opposed by powerful interest groups have little chance of passing. Too many bills are introduced that have no hope of passing—members introduce them as symbolic gestures or to just get attention.

DEBATING, AMENDING & VOTING How are rules for debate different between the House and Senate? The House Rules Committee decides how many reps. may speak on a bill / for how long, and if amendments will be allowed to the bill. The Senate follows no formal rules for debate

DEBATING, AMENDING & VOTING During the reading / debate of a bill, anyone can propose an amendment to the bill. Why might opponents of a bill offer amendments to a bill? To slow its progress, or change it so much that it becomes unlikely to pass

DEBATING, AMENDING & VOTING After debate, the whole chamber votes Must have a quorum—majority present 3 methods of voting Voice vote (“Aye” or “No”) Standing count Roll call vote (most inefficient) House also uses electronic voting—board shows how each member voted