1. How are laws made?
Legislating is a slow process ON PURPOSE and there are many places a potential law can die along the way.
The Framers designed the process to protect people from the government and to ensure thought and discussion occurred. They hoped to prevent laws based on emotion and ensure laws were based on reason.

2. Usually to correct a problem or address a concern
How a Bill Becomes a Law
It starts as an idea…
A member of Congress takes the idea and writes a BILL (a proposed law) and introduces the bill to his House
Usually to correct a problem or address a concern

3. Lets look at an example…
A House Bill is written by a Congressman and starts in the House
Bill

4. Bill starts in a House Committee; It can be passed or can
die in committee
Bill reaches
the House
Floor;
It can be
passed
or can die
STOP
STOP
Bill
If Passed…
If Passed…
DEAD
END
DEAD
END
Bill

5. Bills that start in the Senate
Crossover:
House bills
now go to the
Senate
Bill
Bills that start in the Senate
now go to
the House

6. Bill reaches a Senate Committee; It can be passed or can die
in committee
Bill reaches
Senate
Floor;
can be
passed
or can die
STOP
STOP
Bill
If Passed…
If Passed…
DEAD
END
DEAD
END
Bill starts in
a House
Committee;
It can be
passed or can
die in committee

7. If 2/3rds in BOTH houses agree…
A 2/3rds
vote of BOTH
Houses can
override a veto;
without the bill dies
STOP
STOP
If 2/3rds in BOTH houses agree…
DEAD
END
If Vetoed…
Bill
If Signed…
The bill then goes
to the President;
he can sign it
into law or
veto the bill
BILL IS
NOW
A LAW

8. Bills go through the same process in House and Senate
Where they start (House or Senate) depends on where it is first introduced and by whom.
This is how laws are made. Remember, it is a slow process ON PURPOSE and there are many places a bill can die along the way ON PURPOSE.

9. YOUR TURN!
With a partner, you are going to take the next EIGHT minutes to write your own bill that will go through the process.
Think about things you would like changed or problems in society you would like addressed. Bills need to be REALISTIC and SERIOUS! Bills banning school or homework do not fit this criteria!
You will have to defend why your bill is important- keep this in mind when writing!
DUE AT END OF CLASS!

11. DEAD
END
STOP
STOP
DEAD
END

12. STOP
STOP
DEAD
END
BILL IS NOW
A LAW