Lawmaking in Congress Congress

How are bills passed into laws? Congress Lawmaking How are bills passed into laws?

Passing the House Congress

Congress Law Making 1. Introduction Any member of House can introduce a piece of legislation This takes place on the House Floor This makes up the “Committee of the Whole” ( all House members ) There are 435 congressmen involved here – too many for lawmaking

Congress Law Making 2. Standing Committee The Speaker of the House refers the bill to the appropriate committee He can also refuse to do this – and stop the bill from progressing He can set time limits on the committee to complete their work Average size of a House standing committee is around 40 The average Representative is on 2-3 committees and 6 subcommittees

Congress Law Making 3. Subcommittee The committee chairman refers the bill to the appropriate subcommittee This is where the actual “law writing” happens. Subcommittees range in size but average around 15 Subcommittee members are likely a part of an iron triangle relationship – This is where interest groups are likely to get involved in lawmaking

Congress Law Making 4. Committee Approval The bill is returned to the standing committee to be voted on A bill must be voted “out of committee” to proceed Committee will also hold a “mark up session” where the members can make revisions and additions The bill with its additions is what will move to the House to be voted on The committee chair can prevent the bill from moving forward here by denying a vote in committee

Congress Law Making 5. House Rules Committee The House Rules Committee controls the agenda in the House They schedule when the bill will be voted on They set aside a limited amount of time for debate They decide if the bill will have an “open rule” or “closed rule” Open rule means any member can add amendments to the bill when it’s on the House floor Closed rule forbids the introduction of amendments to the bill

Congress Law Making 6. Floor Debate & Voting The bill is placed on a House Calendar & is scheduled for floor action The bill is debated – time is equally divided between those in favor and those opposed to the bill Amendments may be added to the bill here if HRC allowed them. A quorum is necessary to vote on the bill, but all 435 members don’t have to be there for voting to take place. If it passes, the House waits on the Senate to pass a similar bill

Passing the Senate Congress

Congress Law Making 1. Introduction Any member of Senate can introduce a piece of legislation They must be recognized by the Senate Majority Leader & if ANY other senator objects, they have to wait and try again tomorrow. There are 100 senators involved here – too many for lawmaking

Congress Law Making 2. Standing Committee The Senate Majority Leader refers the bill to the appropriate committee He can also refuse to do this – and stop the bill from progressing Average size of a Senate standing committee is around 19 The average Senator is on 4 committees and 12 subcommittees

Congress Law Making 3. Subcommittee The committee chairman refers the bill to the appropriate subcommittee This is where the actual “law writing” happens. Subcommittees range in size but average around 10 and only a couple show up Subcommittee members are likely a part of an iron triangle relationship – This is where interest groups are likely to get involved in lawmaking

Congress Law Making 4. Committee Approval The bill is returned to the standing committee to be voted on A bill must be voted “out of committee” to proceed Committee will also hold a “mark up session” where the members can make revisions and additions The bill with its additions is what will move to the House to be voted on The committee chair can prevent the bill from moving forward here by denying a vote in committee

Congress Law Making 5. Senate Majority Leader The Senate Majority Leaders schedules bills for debate & vote Whenever he knows he has a majority of votes, he can bring the bill to the floor for voting He can prevent a bill from ever coming to the floor for a vote.

Any senator can add ANY amendment to the bill in debate. Congress Law Making 6. Floor Debate & Voting The bill is debated – time is unlimited for debate. Each speaker gets as much time to advocate for or against the bill as they want This is where bills are likely to be filibustered by an opposing senator A filibuster can only be ended with 60 votes, so the threat of a filibuster is enough to kill it. Any senator can add ANY amendment to the bill in debate.

Joint Action Congress

Congress Law Making 7. Conference Committee This committee has to make compromises between the House and Senate versions of the bill They are made up of members of the House picked by the Speaker & members of the Senate picked by the Senate Majority Leader The compromise bill they make must go back to the House and Senate to be voted on again.

They are no longer allowed to make any amendments to the bill Congress Law Making 8. House & Senate Floor The House and Senate both have to vote again on changes made by the conference committee They are no longer allowed to make any amendments to the bill Some members may change their votes because of changes the conference committee made

Presidential Action Congress

Congress Law Making 9. President Signs the Law Vetoes the Law The President can also ignore the law passed by Congress – if he doesn’t sign the law, it’s a “pocket veto”

Bigly Ideas Beliefs & Behaviors

Opportunities to Amend Congress Wrap Up Obstacles to passage Opportunities to Amend Agenda Control Conference Committee Focus on these things: