BILLS

Types of Bills Private Bill: individual people or places People’s claims against the government Immigration issues Public Bill: general matters and apply to the entire nation Raising or lowering taxes Health Insurance Gun Control Civil Rights

Resolutions Simple resolution: covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and passed by that house alone Internal matter, no Presidential signature needed Joint Resolution: passed by both Houses Correct an error in an earlier law Appropriate money Propose Constitutional amendments Concurrent Resolution: matters requiring the action of the House & Senate but have no force of law Setting the date for the adjournment of Congress

Bills vs. Resolutions A Bill is how laws are made Approval of both the House and the Senate Requires the President’s signature Or 2/3 vote of each House to override his veto Simple and Concurrent Resolutions have no force of law since they only effect the House, Senate or Both Joint Resolutions can become laws since some require vote of both Houses and the President

How A Bill Becomes a Law 1) First reading – Bill is given a title and a number (H.R. 1 or S.1) 2) Committee Action – Groups that deal with specific bills (hold hearings) 3) Floor Action – debate the bill on the floors of each chamber. Then bill is called to a vote, must be approved by both houses The Closed Rule – Members of Congress are unable to add amendments to a bill from the floor Conference Action – both house reach a compromise before sending bill for final approval 4) Sent to P.O.T.U.S for approval – signs or veto