How our Legislature Works How a Bill Becomes Law!

Congressional Committees Play an important role in the lawmaking process Play an important role in the lawmaking process This is where work takes place that cannot be done on the floor This is where work takes place that cannot be done on the floor In which house does most of the work take place in committees? Why? In which house does most of the work take place in committees? Why?

Standing Committee Permanent Committee Permanent Committee Handle most legislative business Handle most legislative business Get info through hearings and investigations Get info through hearings and investigations

Subcommittees Smaller division of standing committees Smaller division of standing committees Main job is to review proposed bills Main job is to review proposed bills

Select/Special Committees Temporary committee Temporary committee Created to deal with a specific problem Created to deal with a specific problem

Joint Committees Permanent committees Permanent committees Made up of members from BOTH houses Made up of members from BOTH houses Deals with issues affecting both houses Deals with issues affecting both houses Ex: Library – job is to oversee Library of Congress Ex: Library – job is to oversee Library of Congress

Conference Committees Temporary Committee Temporary Committee Include members of both houses Include members of both houses Created to “iron out” differences between 2 versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate Created to “iron out” differences between 2 versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate Goal is to make the bill the same for both houses Goal is to make the bill the same for both houses

Bill is introduced in the House or the Senate (can be introduced by any member; the legislator that introduces the bill becomes the bills’ sponsor) (can be introduced by any member; the legislator that introduces the bill becomes the bills’ sponsor)

Bill receives a # from the clerk For example: For example: (HB001 or SB001) (HB001 or SB001)

Goes to a standing committee Standing committee can decide to assign it to a subcommittee Standing committee can decide to assign it to a subcommittee Bill is killed Bill is killed

Goes to a subcommittee Looks into the bill and can decide to report the bill to the floor to all the legislators Looks into the bill and can decide to report the bill to the floor to all the legislators Bill is killed Bill is killed

Report to the Floor On the floor, the bill is debated and changes can be made, if needed before it is passed On the floor, the bill is debated and changes can be made, if needed before it is passed Bill is killed Bill is killed

Debate, Change, Pass On the floor, legislators debate, make any changes and if the majority votes in favor, the bill passes in that house. On the floor, legislators debate, make any changes and if the majority votes in favor, the bill passes in that house.

Bill is signed and sent to the other house Bill is introduced in House or Senate Signed and sent to other house Draw an arrow from this box, back Up to the first box

President Lets bill sit for 10 days Signs it Veto Pocket Veto: Congress adjourns within 10 days and bill is not signed Congress adjourns within 10 days and bill is not signed Bill is killed!

President Lets bill sit for 10 days Signs it Bill Becomes a Law!

President Veto Goes back to Congress 2/3 vote in BOTH houses to override veto Bill Becomes a Law! If not, bill is killed!

** Add this somewhere along the side of your chart: Lobbyists and special interest groups try to convince lawmakers to vote their way during this process Lobbyists and special interest groups try to convince lawmakers to vote their way during this process