Legislative Process How A Bill Becomes A Law

Types of Bills Two Types of Bills: Private Bills: individual people and places Public Bills: general matters and apply to the entire nation Examples- gun control, civil rights, or abortion

Why do such a small number of bills become laws? Less than 10% of all bills introduced in Congress become public law. The lawmaking process is very long and complicated 100 specific steps could be involve in passing a law, which could delay, kill or change a bill Lawmaking is a long process with a lot of steps that sponsors of a bill must be willing to bargain and compromise with lawmakers and interest groups Lawmakers sometimes introduce bills that they know do not have a chance of becoming a law

Introducing a Bill Ideas come from: Private citizens Interest groups The president Officials in the executive branch Various people may write new bills, such as: lawmakers or their staffs lawyers from a Senate or House committee A White House staff member An interest group

Introducing A Bill Only a member of Congress can introduce a new bill In the House of Representatives, a representative simply drops the bill into the hopper, a box near the clerk’s desk In the Senate, the presiding officer of the Senate must recognize the senator to formally present the bill

What is a Name? In the Senate, bills are designated a title and number (S. 1, S. 2, S. 3, etc.) In the House of Representatives, the are designated a title and number (H.R. 1, H.R. 2, H.R. 3, etc.) The first reading of the bill is when the bill is printed and distributed to lawmakers

Killing a Bill in Committee When the bill is send to a committee a bill could be ignored and simply let die in a process called “pigeonholing” Or by a majority vote in the committee

If it survives… The committee can recommend that the bill can be: Adopted as it was introduced Make changes Completely rewrite the bill before sending back to the House or Senate

Committee Hearings This is where the committee decides to act on a bill through listening to testimony from people interested in the bill Witnesses who present testimony could be: Experts on the subject of the bill Government officials Representatives of interest groups concerned with the bill

Committee Vote Committee can vote to either: Kill Report Along with the bill is a written report that explains committee’s actions

Is the report important? The report documents: Committee’s actions Describes the bill Lists the major changes the committee has made Gives opinions on the bill

Floor Action Floor Action, debate on the bill in the House and the Senate During this debate on the pros and cons of the bill lawmakers can propose amendments to add to the bill

Voting Quorum, or majority, of the members must be present to vote To pass the bill needs a majority vote of all the members present

House of Representatives Voting Three ways to vote: Voice voting (“Aye” or “NO” is spoken by all members and the speaker determines who has the most voices) Standing vote (division voting those in favor stand up and are counted or those opposed stand) Recorded vote (members’ votes are recorded electronically)

Senate Voting Three ways to vote: Voice voting (same as house) Standing vote (same as house) Roll-call vote (senators respond “Aye” or “No” as their names are called in alphabetical order

To Pass…. For a bill to become a law it must pass in both House of Congress in identical form If one house accepts one version and the other house has passed the bill goes to Conference Committee

Conference Committee Conference Committee, a group of senators and representatives that are to work out the differences between the two versions The members that compose the conference committee are called conferees Their goal is to bargain and arrange a compromise between the two different bills

Conference Committee (continued) The committee members sometimes make important changes in the bill or add provisions neither House or Senate previously considered A Conference report, is the final compromised bill Once the conference report is accepted, the bill can be submitted to each house to be voted on

The Bill travels to the White House The president can: Sign the bill May keep the bill for 10 days without signing it If Congress is in session the will become law without President’s signature (rarely happens) Veto the bill Veto (the president refuses to sign the bill) Pocket Veto ( Congress is no longer in session and cannot override the veto)

Back to Congress… If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both Houses If the Congress overrides it becomes law Congress does not override vetoes very often because it is difficult to get the necessary two-thirds vote in both Houses

Types of Resolutions Simple resolution: covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by the house alone Internal matter (does not have the force of a law and is not sent to the president to sign)

Types of Resolutions Joint Resolution: when both houses pass the resolution and the president signs the resolution, it gives it the force of a law. May correct an error in an earlier law Propose constitutional amendments, which do not require the president’s signature

Types of Resolutions Concurrent Resolutions: requiring the action of the House and Senate, but on which a law is not needed. May set a date for the adjournment (end) of Congress Used to express Congress’s opinion about an issue

Rider What is a rider? A rider is a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the bill. Lawmakers attach riders to bills that are likely to pass Sometimes riders are attached to bills that are unrelated and are simply there to benefit their constituents