How a Bill Becomes a Law – The House

4 Types of Legislation  Bills  Joint Resolutions  Concurrent Resolutions  Resolutions

Only 10% of bills get passed !!

Bill  Proposed law  Hoping to get passed

Joint Resolution  Similar to bills – have force of law  Deal with unusual or temp matters  Examples: Declaration of War

Concurrent Resolution  Matters that both House and Senate must Act on  Don’t have force of law  Examples: Congratulating a country on their anniversary of independence, recess of congress

Resolutions  Deal with matters concerning either the House or the Senate  Don’t have force of Bill  Example:  Expulsion of a member

In the House Each Bill is numbered and titled And then it is referred to the appropriate Standing Committee

Rider  An addition to a bill, that would not pass on its own  “a bad bill attached to a winner”

In the House...  Each bill is Numbered and Titled  HR Welfare Reform Act of 2009

In Committee...  The bill is...  Debated, rewritten, riders attached  MOST DIE Here in committee

In Committee...  Pigeonholing – letting the bill die -- Chairmen’s power  Discharge Petition

In Committee...  House Rules Committee  Works with Speaker to schedule bills for consideration

On the Floor of the House  Quorum – Majority present

In Debate on the Floor  House has time limits  The Speaker oversees debate, rules and time limits

Voting  Voice Vote – “aye” or “no”  Standing Vote – to demand a roll call vote  Roll Call Vote  Electronic, scoreboard,  15 minutes

If Passed the House the Bill Moves on to the Senate