CONGRESS AT WORK Chapter 7

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Of the thousands of bills introduced in each session, only a few hundred become laws. Most die in Congress, while others are vetoed by the president. There are two types of bills: Private bills, which deal with peoples or places. They often involve people’s claims against the government or their immigration problems.

Public bills deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation. They are often controversial and receive significant media coverage. They may involve such issues as raising or lowering taxes, national health insurance, gun control, civil rights, or abortion. Congress may also pass several types of resolutions to deal with unusual or temporary matters. A simple resolution covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by that house alone. (H.Res. and S.Res.)

When both houses pass a joint resolution the president’s signature gives it the force of law. Joint resolution may correct an error in an earlier law or appropriate money for a special purpose. (H.J. Res or S. J. Res) Concurrent resolution covers matters requiring the action of both houses, the House and the Senate, do not have the force of law and do not require the president’s signature. (H.Con. Res. or S.Con. Res)

Less than 5 percent of all bills introduced in Congress become public laws. Why do you think so few? 1) The lawmaking process is very long and complicated (more than 100 steps, at any point, the bill can be changed, delayed, or killed. This means that groups opposing a bill have an advantage) 2) Because of the long process, sponsors of a bill must be willing to bargain and compromise with lawmakers and interest groups 3) Lawmakers introduce bills they know have no chance of ever becoming law

How Bills are IntroducedHow Bills are Introduced. The first step in the legislative process is proposing and introducing a new bill. The ideas for new bills come from private citizens, interest groups, the president, or officials in the executive branch. Bills introduced in the House and Senate are printed and distributed to lawmakers. The process of the first reading of the bill starts when it gets introduced (S.1, S.2… H.R. 1, H.R. 2…)

To introduce a bill in the House, a member drops the bill into the hopper. To introduce a bill in the Senate, the presiding officer of the Senate must first recognize the senator who then formally presents the bill.

In each house of Congress, new bills are sent to the committees that deal with their subject matter. Under the chairperson’s leadership, the committee can ignore the bill and simply let it die in a procedure called pigeonholing.

When a committee decides to act on a bill, the committee will hold hearings on the bill. Hearings are sessions at which committee listens to testimony from people interested in the bill. They are an opportunity for Congress to gather information on the bill. Interest groups are groups of people concerned about or interested in an issue before Congress. Once a bill is approved, it is reported and sent to the House or Senate.

The introduction of a bill is followed by a debate. The pros and cons of the bill have already been discussed. During the debate, amendments are offered. Opponents of the bill propose amendments to slow the process. After this, the bill is ready for a vote. A quorum is the number of members required to be present in order to vote on a bill. House members vote on a bill in one of several ways: voice vote – members call out “Aye” or “No”; standing vote (division vote) – members in favor stand and are counted, then those opposed stand and are counted;

and record vote – members record their votes electronically. There is another type of voting used by the member of the House, teller vote – members in favor walk down the aisle and are counted, then members opposed walk down the aisle and are counted. The Senate also has three methods of voting: voice vote, standing vote, and a roll call – members’ names are called in alphabetical order and they answer “Aye” or “No.”

After both houses of Congress have approved a bill, it is sent to the president. He may sign the bill, and it will become law; or he can keep the bill for 10 days, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature. The president can also vetoed the bill (refuse the bill and send it back to Congress). He can kill the bill by refusing to act on it (pocket veto) within the last 10 days of Congress. The president could also veto specific provisions (lines or items) while accepting the main part of a bill.

Congress has the power to override a president’s veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. If Congress overrides the veto, the bill becomes law. After a bill becomes law, it is registered with the National Archives and Records Service, where they will be noted as a public or private law and assigning it a number that identifies the Congress that passed the bill and the number of the law for that term.

Tom Price HR Common Sense English Act Saxby Chambliss HR 296. Fair Tax Act of 2009

GET PAPER OUT or TYPE THE ANSWERS 1. Anyone can create an idea for a bill. True False

2. Could someone who was previously in jail create an idea for a bill? True False

3. Who can introduce a bill in either house of congress? a) a lawyer b) a member of congress c) any citizen of the US

4. Where is the bill introduced in the House of Representatives? a) pigeonholding b) no formal introduction c) hopper

5. Where does the committee place the bill a) calendar b) senate c) basket

6. After the bill is debated, the house or the senate are ready to vote True False

7. When the president gets the bill, he can a) ignore the bill b) pocket veto – veto the bill c) sign the bill d) any of the above

8. If the president does nothing after receiving the bill, it goes back to congress True False

Where do taxes come from? And what are they used for? Almost all important work on tax laws occurs in the House WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, which decides whether to go along with presidential requests for tax cuts or increases. It also makes the numerous rules and regulations that determine who will pay how much tax. TAXING AND SPENDING BILLS The money that people and businesses pay to support the government

Because all tax bills start at the House, the Senate often tries to change tax bills the House has passed. As a result many people view the Senate as the place where the interest groups can get House tax provisions they do not like changed or eliminated. The Senate Committee on FINANCE has primary responsibility for dealing with tax matters.

Congress has another important power over government spending… the power of appropriation, or approval of government spending, by the Appropriations Committee. Congress must pass laws to appropriate money for the federal government; congress’s approval is needed before departments and agencies of the executive branch can actually spend money (Dpt. of Defense or the FCC). Both the House and the Senate have their appropriations committees, which have 12 subcommittees that deal with the same policy areas in each house. Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services Homeland Security Interior and Environment Labor, HHS, Education Legislative Branch Military Construction, VA State, Foreign Operations Transportation, HUD

INFLUENCING CONGRESS Members of Congress must constantly make difficult decisions. They decide which policies they will support and when to yield or not to yield to political pressures. They must also decide how to vote on controversial issues and when to make speeches explaining their views. Who influences the lawmakers? 1)Voters in lawmaker’s home state or districtVoters in lawmaker’s home state or district 2)The lawmaker’s political partyThe lawmaker’s political party 3)The Speaker of the HouseThe Speaker of the House 4)The Senate Majority LeaderThe Senate Majority Leader 5)The presidentThe president 6)Lobbyists for special interest groups and PACs 7)Staff or committee members 8)Campaign fund contributors and campaign workers 9)Each other

1) Voters say they want their lawmakers to follow constituents’ wishes on the issues and enact laws that reflect their needs and opinions. 2) In the economy, party members tend to vote the same way. On foreign policy, the positions are much weaker. 3&4) Speaker and majority leader use the power of persuasion 5) Congress complains that presidents have more ways to influence legislation than do lawmakers

The representatives of interest groups, called lobbyists, try to convince members of Congress to support policies favored by the groups they represent. Their efforts to influence officials is called lobbying. They represent a wide variety of interests such as business organizations, labor unions, doctors, lawyers, education groups, minority groups, and environmental organizations.

The influence of party politics on common issues is very well defined. Democratic lawmakers are more likely than Republicans to favor social-welfare programs, job programs through public works, tax laws that help people with lower incomes, and government regulation of business.

While Republicans are more likely to support less spending for government programs, local and state solutions to problems rather than solutions by the national government, and policies that favor business and higher-income groups.

ASSIGNMENTS Page 208 – 209 Reviewing Key Terms Recalling Facts Skill Practice Activity