1. The Legislative Process
How a Bill becomes a Law

2. The Big Picture House Senate President
A bill must pass both the House and Senate then be signed by the President to become a law

3. 1. Bill Introduction
The President, a member of Congress, an interest group, on an individual has an idea for a new law or a change to an existing law
Anyone can write a bill

4. 2. Bill Sponsorship Only a member of Congress can sponsor a bill
Member of Congress signs his name on the bill
Private Bill: affects a specific person, organization, or location
Public Bill: affects the general population or country at large

5. 3. Bill in the Hopper
After the idea for a bill is developed and the text of the bill is written, a member of Congress must officially introduce the bill by dropping the bill into the hopper
Representatives usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents
Representatives who sponsor bills will try to gain support for them, in hopes that they will become laws

6. 4. Bill with the Clerk
House clerk removes the bill from the Hopper, numbers each bill as it is introduced, and give the bill a short title
The clerk then hands the bill to the Speaker
Example: H.R. 101 (Legalize Marijuana)
The Honorable Lorraine C. Miller
Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
The Clerk Picked me!
H.R. 101

7. 5. Bill with the Speaker
Bill is given it’s first reading by the Speaker or the reading clerk
Bill is immediately printed and distributed to members
Speaker assigns the bill to the appropriate committee

8. 6. Bill in the Committee
The bill is referred to the appropriate committee. The 19 House committees and 16 Senate committees each have jurisdiction over different areas of public policy
Committee Chairperson decides when the committee will meet to discuss the bill
Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up)
Committee may hold public or private hearings on the bill
Committee will vote on the bill

9. 7. Bill in Rules Committee
The Rules Committee controls the calendar for the House. They will determine if and when the bill will be considered and how much time will be allowed for its debate.
Will also decide if the bill may be changed (amended) during debate
The bill is sent to the House Floor for consideration

10. 8. Floor Debate Floor actions begins and members debate the bill
Bill is given its 2nd reading
Due to the size of the House, debate time is strictly limited
Following debate, the House is ready to vote on the bill
Open or Closed Rule

11. 9. Floor Vote Voice Vote Standing Vote Teller Vote Roll-Call Vote
Computerized Vote
Bill must receive a
majority to pass
Given 3rd and final
reading, and sent
to the Senate

12. 10. Bill with Senate Secretary
The Secretary of the Senate will "clock" the bill when it arrives and present it to the acting President Pro Tempore
I’m half way through the process, I hope I can make it through the Senate!
H.R. 101

13. 11. Bill with Pro Tempore
Bill receives it’s 1st reading in the Senate (reading clerk)
President Pro Tempore assigns the bill to the appropriate committee

14. 12. Bill in Senate Committee
Committee Chairperson decides when the committee will meet to discuss the bill
Bill is read, studied, debated, changed (marked up)
Committee may hold public or private hearings on the bill
Committee will vote on the bill

15. 13. Majority Leader
If the bill survives the Senate Committee, it is presented to the Majority Leader who decides if or when to bring it to the floor for debate
Harry Reid (D-NV)

16. 14. Senate Floor Debate No time limit for debate (2nd reading of bill)
Filibuster: “talk a bill to death” (stalling tactic) Senators try to monopolize the Senate floor to prevent action (voting) on a bill
Cloture Rule: 3/5 of the Senate (60 Senators) vote to invoke the rule. From that point, no more than 30 hours of floor time may be spent on that bill
Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
24 hours 18 minute Filibuster

17. 15. Senate Floor Vote
Senate does NOT have a computerized voting system
Senate will use roll call, teller, or voice vote
Bill must get a majority vote to pass
3rd and final reading if it passes
Vote Yes!
H.R. 101

18. 16. Conference Committee
Joint committee formed by members of both the House and Senate (appointed by the Speaker and Pro Tempore)
Bill must pass the House and Senate in identical form
If either chamber changed the bill, it must go to a conference committee
Conference committee will “iron out” any differences on the bill before going to the President
Hey guys, work things out, I want to see the President!
H.R. 101

19. 17. Bill with the President
President Has 3 Options:
A. Sign the Bill
B. Veto the Bill
C. Do nothing at all

20. A. President Signs the Bill
Bill becomes a LAW!

22. B. President Veto’s the Bill
Rejects the bill and sends it back to Congress
Congress may override a veto by a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate

23. C. President Does Nothing
If Congress stays in session, after 10 days the bill will automatically become a law
If Congress adjourns, after 10 days the bill will automatically die (pocket veto)
H.R. 101
Even if the President ignores me, I still may become a law!

25. Other Legislative Terms
Pork-barrel legislation
Rider
Christmas Tree Bill