Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School How A Bill Becomes A Law Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School

How a Bill Becomes a Law The lawmaking process is complicated and only a small fraction of bills introduced to Congress become law.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Over 10,000 bills are introduced each year. Why are so many introduced? Only a few hundred become law (about 5%). Why is it easier to defeat legislation than to pass it? The process is lengthy, sometimes several months long. Why does it take so long for Congress to pass legislation?

Why do so few bills become laws? 1. The process is long and complex. 2. Bills must have strong support. 3. Supporters must be willing to compromise. 4. Many bills are introduced that have no chance of passing.

How a Bill Becomes a Law In this lesson you will learn how the lawmaking process works First we will look at the different forms new legislation may take Then you will learn about the steps a bill must go through in order to become a law

I. Types of Bills and Resolutions

Public Bills Public bills deal with matters that apply to the entire nation (ex.-taxes, health insurance, gun control, civil rights, abortion). They are often controversial and may be debated for months

Private Bills Private bills - deal with individual people or places (small % of bills) They often involve peoples claims against the government or immigration problems In a recent year only about 230 or 11,824 bills introduced were private bills Sopuruchi Chukwueke

Resolutions Resolutions cover matters that only affect Congress (ex.-procedures, date for adjournment, etc.) Because it is an internal matter, it does not have the force of law and is not sent to the president for signature

Riders Riders are provisions attached to a bill on an unrelated subject Sometimes lawmakers attach many unrelated riders to a bill they think may pass, simply to benefit their constituents

II. Introducing a Bill

Introducing a Bill Proposing a New Bill- Various people may write bills: congressmen, their staff, lawyers, a White House staff member, or an interest group. Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill.

Introducing a Bill 1. House of Representatives: a representative drops a bill into the “Hopper” – a box hanging on the clerk’s desk Senate: a senator recognized by the presiding officer introduces the bill on the floor 2. the bill is given a HR # or a S#

III. Committee Action

Committee Action: Both houses of Congress After being numbered, new bills are sent to the committees that deal with their subject matter. Committees may do several things with the bill: May send the bill to a subcommittee 2. Pigeonhole the bill - ignore the bill and let it die Hold hearings - listen to testimony from different people interested in the bill (citizens, experts on the topic, etc.) Recommend the bill be adopted (accepted) as is, or Make amendments/ changes before reporting - sending it back to the House or Senate floor for further action

III. Floor Action

Floor Action A bill may start in either house of Congress Bills must pass both houses of Congress in identical form When a bill is passed in one house of Congress it is then sent to the other house, unless the other house has a bill on the same topic being considered First we will look at bills going through the House of Representatives…

Floor Action: the House When a bill is reported out of a committee, it does not go straight to the floor. The House of Representatives has too many members for unlimited debate, so rules are strict and time is limited. Bills first go to the Rules Committee: a committee that sets rules about how long representatives may debate a bill and whether they can add amendments. Probably the most important committee in the House

Floor Action: the House After a bill has been debated and any amendments have been made, the House votes on the bill If passed, the bill is sent to the Senate

Floor Action: the Senate Because the Senate is smaller: it is more informal members may have unlimited debate may propose amendments that don’t always have to do with the bill Sometimes to prevent a bill from being voted upon, a senator or senators may engage in a filibuster: where a senator/s attempt to talk the bill to death A filibuster may be ended if the other senators vote for cloture: three-fifths (60) of the Senate vote to end debate and vote on the bill

IV. Conference Committee Action

Conference Committee Action Before going to the President’s desk, a bill must pass both houses of Congress in identical form If both houses have similar bills or if each house has made amendments to a bill that has come from the other house, a Conference Committee is created A Conference Committee: is made of senior members from the House and Senate Members come from the committees where the bill was first sent The Conference Committee attempts to create a compromise bill that both the House and Senate will accept The bill then goes to both houses for a final vote. No debate or amendments are allowed

V. Presidential Action

Presidential Action The President has several options when a bill comes to him/her: 1.The President may sign the bill or allow the bill to become law without signing in 10 days 2. The President may veto, or reject the bill The President explains in writing why he/she rejected the bill The bill is returned to Congress 3. If Congress is not in session (meeting) and the President does not sign the bill, this is called a pocket veto 4. Congress can override: a veto if 2/3 of the members of both chambers approve the bill. If either fails to override, it does not become law

VI. Bill Becomes Law

Bill Becomes Law If passed, the bill is then registered with the National Archives and Records Service