1. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Monday, 10-24,2016

2. U.S. Constitution Article 1 Section 7 How a Bill Becomes a Law
Turn to page 192
Read along
What bills may a president veto?
What is required to override a presidential veto?
Why do you think a larger legislative majority is required to override a presidential veto than to pass a bill?

3. How a Bill Becomes a Law – steps (handout)
About 25,000 bills are introduced in each term of Congress, but only 10% become law. (2500 new laws every term!)
These are the steps in the law-making process.
A bill may begin in either the House or the Senate except for money bills, - those MUST be introduced in the House.
Pass out Notes

4. Steps to becoming a law 1. Bill is drafted
-Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and even outside groups can draft (write or draw up) bills.
2. Introduced in House
-Representative introduces the bill in the House. Only members can introduce bills.
3. Sent to Committee
-The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee.
4. Committee Action
-Most bills die here. The committee may pigeonhole, table, amend, or vote on the bill. If the bill passes, it goes to Rules Committee.

5. Cont.
5. Rules Committee
-It decides the rules for debate, and when the bill will come up for debate.
6. Floor Action
-House debates the bill, and may add amendments. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it goes to the Senate.
7. Introduced in Senate
-A Senator introduces the bill, which is sent to a committee.
8. Committee Action
-Same procedure as in the House. If the committee majority votes for the bill, it goes to the whole Senate.

6. Cont.
9. Bill Called Up
-Majority floor leader decides when the whole Senate will consider the bill.
10. Floor Action
-The bill is debated, and amendments may be added. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it is returned to the House.
11. Conference Committee
-If the House rejects any of the changes, the bill goes to a conference committee of members of both houses. It works out a compromise.

7. Cont. 12. Vote on Compromise
-Both houses must approve changes made by the conference committee. If approved, the bill goes to the President.
13. Presidential Action
-The president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. If approved, it becomes law.
14. Vote to Override
-If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become law if 2/3 of both houses vote to override the veto.

8. Video & Activity
Try answering these questions while watching the following
Video.
We will review the questions & answers after the video.

9. History Kids: How a Bill Becomes a Law

10. Activity 1. WHO COMES UP WITH THE IDEAS THAT EVENTUALLY BECOME LAWS?
A. SENATORS
B. THE PRESIDENT
C. SCIENTISTS
D. ANYONE CAN COME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT CAN BECOME A LAW
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS D; ANYONE CAN COME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT
CAN BECOME A LAW.
2. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING AN IDEA INTO FORMAL LEGAL
LANGUAGE KNOWN AS A BILL?
A. THE PRESIDENT
B. MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS
C. THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
D. ANYONE CAN WRITE AN IDEA INTO THE FORMAL LEGAL LANGUAGE
KNOWN AS A BILL
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS B; MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING AN
IDEA INTO FORMAL LEGAL LANGUAGE KNOWN AS A BILL.

11. 3. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SPECIAL WOODEN BOX INTO WHICH
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PLACE THEIR BILLS?
A. THE HOPPER
B. THE GAVEL
C. THE POCKET
D. THE CATCHER
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS A; THE HOPPER IS THE NAME OF THE SPECIAL
WOODEN BOX INTO WHICH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PLACE THEIR BILLS.
4. ABOUT HOW MANY COMMITTEES ARE THERE IN THE SENATE?
A. 5
B. 17
C. 21
D. MORE THAN 30
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS C; THERE ARE 21 COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE
5. WHAT DO WE CALL THE WRITTEN CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS THAT
COMMITTEES MAKE TO BILLS?
A. EXTRAS
B. MARK-UPS
C. COMMENTS
D. REVIEWS
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS B; MARK-UPS ARE WHAT WE CALL THE WRITTEN
CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS THAT COMMITTEES MAKE TO BILLS.

12. 6. IF A BILL IS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
IS APPROVED BY A COMMITTEE AND IS THEN APPROVED BY A MAJORITY
VOTE IN THE WHOLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHERE DOES THE BILL
GO NEXT?
A. THE PRESIDENT
B. THE SENATE
C. THE PEOPLE
D. THE SUPREME COURT
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS B; THE SENATE IS WHERE A BILL GOES AFTER IT IS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IS APPROVED BY A
COMMITTEE AND IS THEN APPROVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE IN THE WHOLE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
7. WHO IS A PART OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE?
A. CITIZENS
B. SOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SOME
SENATORS
C. MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
D. A AND B
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS B; SOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND SOME SENATORS ARE PART OF THE JOINT
COMMITTEE.

13. 8. WHAT IS THE MAIN GOAL OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE?
A. TO DECIDE WHICH BILLS WILL BECOME LAWS
B. TO REVIEW ALL LAWS PASSED BY THE SENATE
C. TO RECOMMEND LAWS TO THE PRESIDENT
D. TO TAKE THE HOUSE VERSION AND THE SENATE VERSION OF A BILL AND
CREATE A NEW COMPROMISE BILL
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS D; TO TAKE THE HOUSE VERSION AND THE
SENATE VERSION OF A BILL AND CREATE A NEW COMPROMISE BILL IS THE
MAIN GOAL OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE.
9. HOW MANY SENATORS NEED TO VOTE "YES" IN ORDER
FOR A BILL TO WIN THE SIMPLE MAJORITY IT NEEDS TO PASS?
A. 20
B. 35
C. 51
D. 99
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS C; 51 SENATORS NEED TO VOTE "YES" IN ORDER
FOR A BILL TO WIN THE SIMPLE MAJORITY THAT IT NEEDS TO PASS.

14. 10. WHAT HAPPENS IF A BILL GETS ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IN
THE SENATE, BUT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES?
A. THE BILL GOES TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS SIGNATURE
B. THE BILL DIES
C. THE BILL GOES BACK TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE
D. THE BILL GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS B; THE BILL DIES IF IT GETS ENOUGH VOTES TO
PASS IN THE SENATE, BUT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
11. IF THE VOTE IN THE SENATE IS A TIE, WHO CASTS THE TIE-BREAKING
VOTE?
A. THE VICE PRESIDENT
B. THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
C. THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
D. THE PRESIDENT
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS A; THE VICE-PRESIDENT CASTS THE TIE-BREAKING
VOTE, IF THE VOTE IN THE SENATE IS A TIE.

15. Ticket Out the Door THINKING QUESTION:
WHY DO YOU THINK THE PROCESS OF A BILL BECOMING A LAW IS SO
DIFFICULT?
Write your answer on your worksheet in the space provided.
Turn it in before leaving class.