Warm-Up Where/how is most of the work in Congress done? What is a bill? (this term is in your vocabulary) What is a law you would like to see passed that would have some influence upon your life? Explain why you would want such a law to be passed.

From Bill to Law Subtitle

Bills Congress Considers Private bills; deal with individual people/ places Ex: veterans’ benefits Public bills: apply to entire nation Involve general matters Ex: taxation; health care; social security “I’m Just a Bill” I’m just a Bill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0

Remember that a bill has to be passed by BOTH CHAMBERS of Congress BEFORE it gets to the President.

Idea Originates Citizens Special-interest groups Members of Congress President, Governor

Bill is Introduced Introduced in EITHER chamber by a Senator or a Representative Given title (S.1 or H.R.1) EXCEPTION: revenue bills (appropriation bills) can ONLY begin in HoR

To Committee Bill sent to appropriate standing committee (assigned by Speaker or President Pro Tem) Committee Actions – Possibilities a) Bill is passed with no changes (released) b) Bill is released with changes c) Bill is ignored and let die (pigeonholing/tabling) d) Bill is killed outright by majority vote within committee

Bill Released Onto the Floor If comes out of committee, must go on chamber’s calendar! HoR: House Rules Committee controls schedule (when bills will be heard) Senate: discusses bills in order they’re released

Discussion House HRC decides rules for debate Usually puts time limits on discussion Senate (smaller…. Fewer rules) No limits on debate Filibuster: talk a bill to death Only ended by cloture vote of 3/5 of Senate Filibuster video – Mr Smith Goes to Washington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX8aFpnWxPA

Proposed Changes House Any amendments to bill must be relevant to the bill Senate Amendments to bill can be unrelated (“rider”) Voting on the Bill Need SIMPLE MAJORITY to pass in either chamber (more than ½

To the other side! If a bill passes one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber REMEMBER, bill has to pass BOTH sides to get to the President! If either the HoR or Senate rejects a bill, it dies

Conference Committee Made up equal number of Senators & Representatives, who work to reach compromise bill They come up with one and send bill back to HoR & Senate – can either approve or reject it (no amendments; usually approved)

President Sign bill Veto Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote of BOTH houses Ignore (has 10 days to act) If Congress in session, bill becomes law anyway w/o Prez’s signature If Congress NOT in session, bill does NOT become law (aka a POCKET VETO)

On L underneath warm-up, create illustrated flowchart demonstrating the bill to law process. Include at least 10 individual steps. For each step, do some kind of drawing/ illustration to represent that particular stage.

Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law. Explain why so few bills become law. Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing? Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not?