1. Lawmaking Process

2. Bills Drafting a Bill Types of Bills Legislators President’s Agenda
Interest Groups
Commissions
Individual citizen
Types of Bills
Public bill
Private bill
Revenue bill
Originations Clause
Omnibus bill

3. Resolutions Simple Resolution (non-binding)
Applied and passed by either chamber to establish rules of procedures or sense of chamber
Concurrent Resolution (non-binding)
Applied and passed by both chambers to establish rules and procedures for both houses
Allow a joint session of Congress, provide recess, creating a temporary joint committee
Joint Resolution
Legislative measure passed by both chambers and signed into law by President
For declarations of war, temporary exceptions to laws, authorize small appropriations, establish temporary commissions
Proposal for amendments*
Historical Examples
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
War Powers Resolution

4. Types of Legislative Actions
Distributive
Distribution of goods/services for general public
i.e. highway construction project
Redistributive
Using taxes on one segment of population for entitlements on another segment
i.e. Social Security
Regulatory
Mandates and limits on groups and individuals
i.e. Clean Air and Water Act
Constituent
Establish executive agencies
i.e. Department of Homeland Security after 9/11

5. Introducing a Bill Only a member of Congress may introduce a bill
May be suggested by executive administration (i.e. President), interest groups, citizens
Revenue bills may only originate in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives
handed to the Clerk of the House or placed in the hopper
Introduced and assigned a number
ex. H.R. 913
Senate
Handed to the presiding officer or introduced on floor
ex. S. 913
The Hopper

6. Committees Committee Work Bill Assignments
Consider bills, maintain oversight, conduct investigations
Gatekeeping authority
Proposal power
Hearings and Testimonies
Allows for specialists to determine merits of a bill
Subpoena power
Bill Assignments
Speaker of the House/Presiding Senate Officer

7. Types of Committees Standing Committee Subcommittee Select Committee
Permanent committee over specific policy
Subcommittee
Subset of a standing committee for specific details of a bill
Select Committee
Temporary committee for specific purpose
Usually for investigations on major public concerns
Joint Committee
Made up of members of both houses
Conference Committee
Temporary committee of both houses to resolve differences of chamber versions of a bill

8. Standing Committees House Senate Appropriations Finance Judiciary
Rules
Ways and Means
Appropriations
Judiciary
Agriculture
Armed Services
Budget
Education and the Workforce
Ethics
Financial Services
Foreign Services
Homeland Security
House Administration
Energy and Commerce
Natural Resources
Oversight and Government Reform
Science, Space, and Technology
Small Business
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans’ Affairs
Appropriations
Finance
Judiciary
Foreign Relations
Agriculture, Nutrition, Forestry
Armed Services
Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs
Budget
Commerce, Science, Transportation
Energy and Natural Resources
Environment and Public Works
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Homeland Security and Government Affairs
Rules and Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Veterans’ Affairs

9. Committee Membership
The percentage of a committee reflects overall percentage of political party members in respective chamber
Members desire relevant committees related to districts and/or experience
Ambitious members strive for membership in major standing committees and/or become chairperson
Committee assignments based on party leadership and patronage

10. Committee Chairperson
Responsibilities
Presides over the committee
Set committee agendas
Assign subcommittee members
Decide on hearings and witnesses
Selection
From majority party of respective chamber
Mostly based on seniority system
Now usually long-standing member of committee
Paul Ryan, House Ways and Means Chairman

11. Committee Actions on a Bill
Committee Referral
Bills assigned to committees who refer to appropriate subcommittees
Subcommittees refer bill back to committee
Hearings and Testimony
Markup
Committees read and add amendments to bills
Table
Motion to kill a bill in committees
Pigeonhole
Full Committee Vote
Report Out
House’s Discharge Petition
Requires absolute majority (218 votes)

14. House Rules Committee
Once a House bill is reported out by committee(s) it must be assigned to the HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE before it reaches the House floor for debate and voting
Sets rules, restrictions, and times on bills during floor debate with input by Speaker of the House
CLOSED RULE
Severe limits on floor debate
No amendments
Bill proponents tend to prefer closed rule
OPEN RULE
Allows floor debate
Allows amendments
Bill opponents tend to prefer open rule

15. House Floor Debate Presided by the Speaker of the House
Time and debate on a bill is limited by the Rules Committee
Committee of the Whole
All House members act as one large committee
To expedite appropriations and revenue bills
Quorum of 100
Presided by a Chairman
Amendments
Must be GERMANE
RIDERS are not allowed
Once debate is completed or terminated, bill heads to a vote

16. Senate Floor Debate The Senate has unlimited debate Amendments
RIDERS are allowed
Amendments must be germane only on budget and appropriations bills
FILIBUSTERS (only in Senate)
A bill could be killed by senators delaying its passage by “talking it to death”
CLOTURE
Debate can be ended with 60 votes; prevent filibusters
HOLDS (only in Senate)
Designed to stall or prevent a bill from being vote on
Anonymous or public
Strom Thurmond filibustered for 24 hours and
18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957

17. Other Legislative Tactics
EARMARKS
Expenditures for specific districts/states, policy areas, and federal agencies determined on appropriations-based legislation
PORK BARREL
“Bring home the bacon.”
Pass appropriations and/or projects for one’s specific district/state
LOGROLLING
Reciprocal support on bills

18. Voting on a Bill QUORUM/QUORUM CALL House of Representatives Senate
A majority of members must be present to vote, conduct business
218 in the House; 51 in the Senate
House of Representatives
Electronic vote
Roll call
Teller vote
Senate
Voice vote; Division vote

19. How a Member Represents and Votes
Representational View/ Delegate Model
Vote based on interests and beliefs of districts/states
CASEWORK
Organizational View
Influenced by party members, president, lobbyists
Vote based on party lines
PATRONAGE
Attitudinal View/Trustee Model
Based on ideology, personal beliefs

20. Finalizing a Bill
Once either chamber passes a bill it is ENGROSSED and sent to the other chamber for passage
Both chambers must pass an identical bill
Conference Committee
Amendments and riders from House and/or Senate versions of a bill
Joint committee of House and Senate members iron out differences
Resulting bill sent to House and Senate for vote

21. To the President/Veto Power
Presentment Clause
President signs the bill into law
May also become law after 10 days*
* If Congress is still in session
Legislative Intent and Signing Statement
Presidential Veto Power
Congress may override veto with 2/3 majority of both houses
Pocket veto
President ignores bill; after 10 days if Congress has adjourned, the bill dies
Legislative Veto*
House or Senate rejects executive action
INS v. Chadha (1983)
Legislative vetoes unconstitutional