1. How a bill becomes a law? MEMORIES!!!! American Gov’t
MEMORIES!!!!

2. I. Turning your idea into a law…
During any session of congress there may be as many as 10,000 “ideas” introduced – less than 10% of these ever become a law.
Bill
- A proposed law presented to the House OR Senate for consideration
One Exception: Revenue bills ($$ Legislations) ALWAYS starts in the House of Representatives…Art. 1, Sec. 7, Cl. 1

3. II. Source of Bills Most start in the Executive Branch
Special Interest Groups
Business
Labor
Agriculture
Private Citizens – ME & YOU
Congressional Standing Committees

4. Attached unrelated matter
RIDER:
Attached unrelated matter
III. Types of Bills
Public Bills – measures that apply to the Nation as a whole
Example: Tax Laws or Amendments to the Constitution, etc.
Private Bills – Apply to certain people or places
Example: Sheep rancher in Idaho or dealing with the NFL veterans

5. Resolutions! Know for AP Exam!
Congress may also pass these to deal w/unusual or temporary matters:
Resolution (simple): covers matters affecting only one house (ex. New rule/procedure)
Joint Resolution: when both houses pass & requires Pres. Signature (ex. correct error in earlier law, appropriate money, Constitutional Amendment)
Concurrent Resolution: covers matters requiring the action of both houses (set date for adjournment, or express Congress’s opinion about an issue)
Riders: a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the bill (ex. Unrelated projects or money for home district or a something necessary for district, usually attached to bills likely to pass).

6. Checkpoint What is a BILL?
What is the only body that can bring up a bill regarding money?
Where are some of the places that a bill can come from?

7. Intro in the House (read & numbered) Public Hearings if needed
Intro in the Senate
Public Hearings if needed
Standing Committee
Standing Committee
Subcommittee
Subcommittee
Floor Debate & Vote
Floor Debate & Vote
Conference Committee
2/3s
Congressional Vote
LAW
President
VETO!

8. IV. Introduction of a Bill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DSruRQ2MNs
In House of Representatives: Bill given to Representative (District #6, Tom Price), he introduces it, sticks it in a Hopper, eventually taken out, given an HRB# and sent off to appropriate Standing Committee
In Senate: bill given to Senator (David Perdue or Jonnie I.) , he introduces it by reading to whole Senate, then given SB# & sent off to appropriate Senate Standing Committee

9. V. In Committee!
In Committee the bill is studied (placed on committee calendar)assigned to a sub- committee for hearings and revisions then reported by Standing committee (they may recommend passage or kill the bill) Rules committee sets rules for when to go to floor, how long to debate, and possible amendments by whole House or Senate!

10. Committee cont.… Know for AP Exam!
Staff members that help Congress:
Over 2000 employees make up Congressional staff
Often help out with writing of bills, research & keep tabs on activities of Executive branch:
There are also Staff agencies that help out:
Congressional Research Service (CRS): provides info. and non partisan studies, they are highly specialized
Government Accountability Office (GAO): performs oversight functions making sure intent of law being followed and its efficiency & effectiveness
Congressional Budget Office (CBO): analyzes Pres. Budget, makes projections about economy, cost of proposed policies, economic effects of taxing & spending

11. VI. Committee Actions Report the bill favorably
“Do-Pass” – THEY LIKED IT
Refuse to report the bill
“Pigeonhole” – LET IT DIE
Report the bill in amended form
“Amended” – CHANGED IT A LITTLE
Report a committee bill
“New Stuff” – MADE THEIR OWN
5) Report the bill with unfavorable recommendation
“No-Pass” – HATED IT

12. VII. House Actions
Debate – discuss the issues (findings that the Committees and Subcommittees came up with)
Committee of the Whole – Speeds up the process; the entire House acts as a committee rather than a legislative body
Quorum – needed to discuss bills, it means a “majority” of the members must be there

13. House Actions After the debate then they: Vote Types of voting
Voice Vote – most common
Standing Vote – self-explanatory
Teller Vote – Selected members count their party’s vote
Roll-Call Vote – this is now done with computers
Positions on vote:
Trustee: Rep/Sen wants constituents to trust how they vote (foreign relations)
Politico: Rep/Sen votes along w/their party ( when not really their area of knowledge)
Delegate: Rep/Sen votes the way state or district (Constituents) wants them to vote (Usually Domestic/social matters)

14. Final Step The Bill is read for a 3rd and final time
One last vote / opportunity for debate
Signed by Speaker
Sent to Senate
What does
“pigeonhole” mean?

15. The Next Step…
The Bill will then go to the Senate…here the process is very similar to the path of a bill in the House.

16. The main difference in the Senate
Debate
House: Formal
Senate: Informal (Free Debate)
Filibuster
Is a part of the debating process
“Talking a bill to death”
Used by “minority” senators to delay or prevent a bill from going further
Monopolizes the Floor Debate Time
(LOC)
(MR)

17. VIII. Conference Committee
Rarely can a bill make it thru all of these steps with out some problem…
This is where a Conference Committee comes in handy…
Members from both chambers come together (temporarily) to make any changes that BOTH can agree upon.
Then they re-vote (almost always passes)
Sent to the President for acceptance or rejection
COMPROMISE

18. IX. Presidential Actions
1) Sign into Law
2) Veto – Means “I forbid” in Latin
Can be overridden with 2/3s vote of Congress (over-ride? Maybe!)
3) Do nothing (Pocket Pass) – 10 days go by, congress still in session then it becomes a law
4) Pocket Veto – If Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill, the President can do nothing, the bill dies!
(LOC)
(bill signing ceremony)