How a Bill Becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a Law A Bill is an idea for a new law Laws come from many places- private citizens, the White House, special-interest groups, etc.

How a Bill Becomes a Law The Bill is introduced in the House or the Senate by a Congressman

How a Bill Becomes a Law House Senate Representative hands bill to clerk or drops it in hopper. Bill given HR number. Senator announces bill on the floor. Bill given S number.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Committee Action House Senate Referred to House standing committee. Referred to House subcommittee. Reported by standing committee. Rules Committee sets rules for debate and amendments. Referred to Senate standing committee. Referred to Senate subcommittee. Reported by standing committee. Sent to subcommittee for changes Standing committee may recommend it pass or be killed

How a Bill Becomes a Law Floor Action House Senate House debates, votes on passage. Bill passes; goes to Senate for approval. OR Different version passes; goes to conference committee. Senate debates, votes on passage. Bill passes; goes to House for approval. OR Different version passes; goes to conference committee.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Conference Action Conference committee works out differences and sends identical compromise bill to both chambers for final approval. House votes on compromised bill. Senate votes on compromised bill.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Approved Bill Sent to President President signs bill, or allows bill to become law without signing. President vetoes bill or uses a “pocket veto.” Congress can override veto with 2/3 majorities in both chambers. If not the bill dies!

How a Bill Becomes a Law Easy Review Introduced in the House or Senate by a congressman Money bill always start in the House Goes to committee then sub-committee Here a bill can die

How a Bill Becomes a Law Easy Review Goes to the floor for a debate and vote Congress Voice Vote Standing Vote Roll-call or today’s Computerized Vote A simple majority is all that is needed to pass a Bill. If either house refuses to pass the Bill, it dies. If it passes it goes to the other house Or a different version can be proposed in the conference committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law Easy Review After conference action, each house votes on the compromise of the bill Passed bill Sent to the President Sign the Bill and it becomes a Law Veto the Bill (Congress can override a veto by 2/3 vote in each house) Pocket veto (do nothing for 10 days) If Congress is in session, it will become law after the 10 days If Congress is not in session, the Bill will die

TERMS to Know- How a Bill Becomes a Law Filibuster- an effort to prevent action in a legislature by making a long speech or series of speeches Cloture- the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote