Warm-up What is the process for a bill becoming a law? Why do you think it is such a long process? What are the positives/negatives for such a long process? Would you change the system? Explain

Introducing a Bill Public bill  deals with general concern Private bill  attains to particular individuals Bill must be passed by both houses and signed by President in a Congressional session (every 2 years)

Resolutions Simple resolution=est. rules in which each body operates Concurrent resolution=settles housekeeping /procedural matters/not signed by pres. Joint resolution=needs approval of pres/both houses/2/3 vote

Legislative productivity 1. Measure the amount of bills passed 2. evaluate the changes made in the legislation 3. Is effected by: divided government (different political parties in control) 4. Unified government=single party has all the power 5. Ear marks

Study by Committees Bill referred to committee by Speaker of the House or presiding officer of the Senate All bills for raising revenue need to start in House of Reps/appropriation bills (how money shall be spent)=Ways and Means Committee

Study by Committees Most bills die in committee Multiple referral=send the bill to multiple committees Sequential referral=Speaker may send a bill out again/parts of it for further review Mark up/change parts of bills

Study by Committee To get a bill out of committee/can sign a discharge petition 218 members must sign/go to vote Closed rule=sets a strict time limit on debate/forbids amendments Open rule=permits amendments from floor Restrictive rule=permits some amendments but not others

Bill in Committee How to bypass the Rules Committee 1. members can move that the rules be suspended/ 2/3 vote 2. discharge petition can be filed 3. Calendar Wednesday=bills must be brought up/passed or else it goes back to committee

Floor Debate—House/Senate HR=Quorum/minimum number of reps must be 218 for business to be conducted S=cloture is only rule on limiting debate/anyone can offer an amendment at any time (Quorum 51 members must be present) Cloture rule=16 members needed to vote 60 must vote to pass/then senators only get 1 hour to speak/can’t exceed 100 hours

Methods of voting Four ways of voting in the House 1. voice vote=members shout yea/nay 2. Division (standing) vote=members’ standing and being counted 3. Teller vote=members pass between two tellers/yeas first, nays second/record votes 4. roll-call vote=congressional voting yea or nay to their names

Bill becomes law Needs senate/house/president approval If president vetoes it/needs 2/3 both houses to over ride the veto or else it dies If bill that passes both houses is different/if minor the last house it passes changes are used/if major set up a conference committee

Reducing power and perks Many people tried to reform congress=share view that congress is overstaffed and self indulgent Pork-barrel legislation=give tangible benefits (such as highways, dams, post offices, etc) to constituents in hope of winning their vote

Franking privilege Send out newsletters/surveys/etc. Pork-barrel spending=bring home the bacon