1. Law Code – List of Laws
Code of Hammurabi – 1750 B.C. – Babylonia - “Oldest recognized” law code – Two types of laws:
*Very harsh;
The rich could buy their way out of “trouble”.
Draco – codified the laws of Greece

2. Justinian codified the law code of Rome – Roman law is the basis of the U.S. judicial system.
Precedent – an example for the future
Common law – originated in England – based on common decisions of judges
Stare decisis – “let the decision stand”
Laws of equity – laws that are to be equal for all people

3. Criminal law – laws that deal with “public” disputes
Civil laws – laws that deal with “private” disputes – don’t go to jail
Statute – a written law
Ordinance – a city, town, or county law
Legislature – a “lawmaking” body
Bill – a proposed law

4. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW IN CONGRESS
Authorship – Who can author a bill? Anyone
Drafting a bill – to formally write a bill
Introducing a bill – Who may introduce a bill to Congress? Only a member of Congress

5. Hopper – basket on the clerk’s desk for all incoming bills
The clerk places a number on the bill
What do the initials “H.R.” for the House and “S” for the Senate mean when they appear before the number on a bill? *Where that bill was first introduced!
The presiding officer sends the bill to the “proper” committee

6. Hearings may be held on the bill to:
Learn more information about the bill;
Hear the “pro’s” and “con’s” of the bill.
*The actions of a committee:
Approve the bill;
Reject the bill;
Amend the bill;

7. Write a report;
Pigeonhole the bill – lose the bill on purpose – done only by a chairman of a committee.
If the bill passes through the committee, it then goes to the entire “floor” of that chamber (House or Senate) where new actions can be taken

8. A BILL MUST PASS BOTH HOUSES!
*Actions that may be taken by the “floor” on the bill:
Approve;
Reject;
Amend:
Send back to the committee for further work.
A BILL MUST PASS BOTH HOUSES!

9. A “conference” committee is necessary if – a bill passes both house, but in different forms – the job of the conference committee is to reach a compromise on the bill, which goes back for a yes – no vote (no debate)
If the bill has made it through the committee, floor, and possible conference committee, it is sent to the President of the United States

10. *Possible actions the President can take after receiving the bill:
Sign the bill;
Veto the bill – the veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress;
Pocket veto the bill – term from Lincoln’s actions;

11. Let the bill sit on his/her desk for 10 days and if Congress is still in session, the bill automatically becomes a law without the President’s signature.
This last action can be used by the President if he/she is unsure about the bill or if there is little chance of a veto working!

12. *Actions of the Secretary of State:
Put the U.S. seal on the bill;
Put the new “law” into the U.S. Book of Statutes.
This is a very long process and the “average” time it takes for a bill to eventually become a law is 6 years!
Library of Congress – world’s largest library – created in 1800

13. Select Committees – temporary committees
Junket – a vacation taken by a member of Congress at taxpayer’s expense
Rider – an addition to a bill – can be very expensive
Rules Committee – only in the House of Representatives – How can this committee prevent the passage of a bill? By putting it at the end of the “calendar” for debate

14. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dealey Plaza – Dallas, Texas
The person charged with the assassination was Lee Harvey Oswald
Abraham Zapruder captured the assassination on film.
Lee Harvey Oswald never faced trial because he was killed by Jack Ruby on Sunday, November 24, 1963

15. The first official report was conducted by a special commission created by Congress – the Warren Commission (released officially by Congress) - that created the Warren Report stating: *
Three and only three shots were fired;
Lee Harvey Oswald fired all three shots;
There was no conspiracy.