YOUR NAME INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION PROFESSOR’S NAME SUBMISSION DATE American Government: The Legislative Branch Portfolio

Table of Contents Citizen Lobbyist Speaker of the House Senate President

Role of the Citizen Approach elected officials with issues and concerns and work with them to develop a proposed bill

Role of the Lobbyist Educators Find legislators to sponsor a bill Meet with committee members (work through committee process) Builds coalition Write position papers Manage the bill through the committee and floor votes

Role of the Speaker of the House Presides and keeps order Presides over all sessions of the House Appoints a temporary presiding officer Refers bills to the standing committees Rules on points of order Puts questions to vote Decides the outcome of most votes taken Debates and vote on any matter before the House Finally bill is signed

Role of the Senator Checks on government by scrutinizing bills Delegated legislation Government administration May pass a bill without amendment, pass it with amendments (or, in the case of money bills, request amendments before passing it) or reject it

Role of the President A bill becomes law if signed by the President or if not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session If Congress adjourns before the 10 days and the President has not signed the bill then it does not become law ("Pocket Veto.") If the President vetoes the bill it is sent back to Congress with a note listing his/her reasons. The chamber that originated the legislation can attempt to override the veto by a vote of two-thirds of those present. If the veto of the bill is overridden in both chambers then it becomes law

References Chang, A. (2013). When Lobbyists Literally Write The Bill : It's All Politics : NPR. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from literally-write-the-bill literally-write-the-bill United States House of Represenatives. (n.d.). The Legislative Process · House.gov. Retrieved from West Virginia Legislature. (n.d.). The Legislative Process - Citizen's Guide. Retrieved from All pictures are ClipArt from Microsoft Powerpoint