How a Bill becomes a Law Tracking the US legislative process

Idea! Any person(s) can suggest a bill be formally proposed. –Student –Retiree –Politician –Legal Alien –Professional –Unemployed person –Interest Group –Journalist

Formal Proposal –Only a member of the House of Representatives (435) or a member of the Senate (100) may formally submit a bill. –Placed in “hopper”-HR; read in Senate Rep. Pat Meehan (R) Sen. Pat Toomey (R) Sen. Bob Casey (D) Rep. Ryan Costello (R)

Public v. Private Bills Most bills public (e.g. Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act) Some private (particular individual – e.g. financial claim against gov’t or naturalized citizen) Appropriation bill- authorizes the government to spend money Resolutions- joint and concurrent

Referral to Committee - Senate President pro Tempore of the Senate (Pat Leahy VT) refers the bill to a standing committee; confers with the Majority Leader (Mitch McConnell, KT) in deciding where to send it.

Referral to Committee - H. R. In the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House refers the bill to a standing committee. Can decide fate by choice. Also bills can go through two or more committees.

Standing Committees - Workhorses of Congress House of Representatives: 20 Standing Committees - Chair: Voted in, often ranking majority member. Examples of Committees Appropriations, Budget, Judiciary, & Ways and Means Senate: 16 Standing Committees - Chair: Ranking member of majority party. Minority Party’s leader is their ranking member

Committee Hearings and Procedures Membership varies; if 20 or more, then at least FOUR subcommittees required. 1. Asks executive agencies for comments 2. Holds hearings for public to voice views John Spratt, Chair

Committee Hearings, continued 3. Perfects the bill through amendments 4. Decides fate of bill - pigeonhole* - report favorably or not - report w/recommendation ch?v=ewPburLEZyY eo/watch/?id=681509n

Getting Stuck Bills Out of Committee H.R. Discharge Petition: Signed by 218 members. Hard to do and rarely used (800 efforts last century ~24 succeeded). Senate- a member can move to discharge a bill (simple majority). Rider-add’l provision placed on a bill

The Rules Committee House of Representatives!!! Establishes debate time Sets criteria for allowing/forbidding amendments

Three Types of Rules - Closed: amendments not permitted. Debate restricted (<5 min). - Modified Open: germane (relevant) amendments. Debate limited (5-10 min). - Open: amendments ok. Debate (5-15).

Consideration in the Full Chamber House of Representatives Committee of the Whole (100 Reps) needed for debate to commence for amendments to bills. Quorum (218) needed for debate on fate of bill. Speaker sets agenda when bills will be debated, calls on Representatives to speak. Limits time and amendments according to Rules Committee criteria. Calls for vote when debate time elapses or members request it. Speaker’s chair. escorted-from-house-floor-for-wearing-hoodie-in-honor-of-trayvon-martin/ escorted-from-house-floor-for-wearing-hoodie-in-honor-of-trayvon-martin/)

Consideration in the Full Chamber Senate No formal rules for debate or adding amendments. Presiding officer’s power rests with ability to call on Senators. Only exception is Vice President who can cast tie-breaking vote.

Senate Debate continued Filibuster - device used by minority faction to stop a bill from being voted on (would pass). Longest filibuster by Strom Thurmond - spoke 24 hrs + Continue talking until majority agrees to withdraw the bill from consideration or attempts cloture.

Senate - Filibusters continued Cloture -Way to stop a filibuster - 16 Senators sign a petition - 2 days wait time - Vote taken on floor of Senate; if 60+ agree, then rules of cloture invoked - Debate limited 1 hour per Senator - Vote on bill taken, usually passes lFCsYOPs&feature=bf_prev&list=PLDC022132D5816E1A

Voting - Senate and H.R Senate - majority needed (51) to pass. Types of Voting same as H.R. except no teller - vote. * Note - names recorded only for teller (upon request by H.R. members) and roll call votes. vote_menu_112_2.htmhttp:// vote_menu_112_2.htm House of Reps - majority required (218) to pass. Types of Voting include: 1. Voice (aye v. no) 2. Standing (count) 3. Teller* file by clerk 4. Roll Call* electronic

Conference Committee Necessary if the H.R. and Senate pass different versions of same bill. Members of both chambers (typically from committee which originally examined the legislation) make compromise version which needs to be approved by both chambers: 50%+

Presidential Action After both chambers approve a bill it is sent to the White House for signature. The Presidents has FOUR options….

1. Sign it! Obama signs $787bn economic stimulus bill US President Barack Obama signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

2. Veto President explains why disagrees w. the bill and can make suggestions for changes. The end of the road for most bills.

3 & 4. Do nothing 3. After 10 days bill becomes a law. Unless… see #4. 4. If it is during the last 10 days of a term of Congress, then it dies. This is considered a “Pocket Veto”

Congressional Override of Veto 2/3 vote in both chambers. Bill becomes a law!